Three More (Small) Things Your Listing Agent Should Be Doing

I recently wrote a post "Three Things Your Listing Agent Should Be Doing." I want to follow up with some relatively small things your listing agent should be doing, but when you add them up, they contribute tremendously to bringing about the successful sale of your house.

1. One of the "three things" in my previous post was for the listing agent to be present at every showing. It may happen that there are circumstances where this won't be possible. In that case, the listing agent should make it as easy as possible for other agents to show the home. If the listing agent is leaving "courtesy keys" at other offices, then the administrative assistant and other agents there should have all of the information about the property. The showing agent should know if there is some idiosyncracy with the key (jiggle it just right, push the door in, etc.). If the agent showing the property cannot easily get to the keys or open the door, then chances are they might avoid showing that property again to their buyers.

2. Another inconvenience is asking for a key deposit. If the listing agent's office checks the showing agent's ID, then that should be sufficient. In my opinion, having to leave a deposit would make me think twice about showing that property again. Ask your listing agent how they will handle showings when they cannot be there.

3. As a buyer's agent, one small annoying thing is to see "see mapquest" in the directions field in the multiple listing database. Most agents have a GPS, but it is a small courtesy and so easy just to put the directions in the listing. To insert "see mapquest" is just plain laziness on the listing agent's part.

These are things a seller probably never thinks about and are relatively minor issues. But why make it difficult to show a property when a little extra effort may make a difference in the sale of your home? Please feel free to comment on this post, or send me an e-mail.