‘If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening my axe.' - Abraham Lincoln
I showed six high-end properties in Palos Verdes last weekend. The actual showings took four hours, but the preparation took many more hours and a circus worthy juggling act! Fortunately, I'm religious about previewing and attending broker open houses, so I was familiar with four of the properties. Another home was a model in a new development a few years ago so this was going to be easier than I anticipated. Or so I thought.
The sixth property was in the same ocean front community and the same floorplan as the model, so I would be able to show it with ease and familiarity too. Since the homes were scattered all over the Palos Verdes Peninsula I routed the properties and made guesstimate on showing times.
Next came the fun part--scheduling apointments with several listing agents. The coordination took hours of phone tag, but with only minimal backtracking along the coastal coves, hills and canyons of Palos Verdes the plan was set.
I prepared folders for the buyers with information on each listing. I familiarized myself with days on market, even checked the tax record to see when the current owners purchased the propety and how much they owed. I checked recent sold comps for each property. I emailed the buyers with the address of the first property and oops, they needed to change the start time from 1:00 to 11:00. It's time to reschedule and re-route!
The day of the showings I was at the carwash when it opened for a quick wash and fillup. While my car was being cleaned I placed a confirmation/reminder call to the buyers. It went to voicemail. Yikes, is that panic I feel?
With only thirty minutes to show time and agents waiting in the wings to show their multi-million dollar listings, I received the most welcome call from the prospective buyers, "We're on our way, but we're running a bit late."
I breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed the files and hit the road, but not before making a few calls to the waiting agents. Showing property is not as easy as it seems. Just like Abraham Lincoln suggests in the above quote, we have to spend more time preparing for the task than it takes to perform it!
Footnote: It was a seamless day that concluded with refreshments at Donald Trump's restaurant in Rancho Palos Verdes. It was helpful to listen as the buyers discussed what they liked and disliked about the various properties. Only a few hours later the buyers sent an email saying, "You made house hunting fun."
Abe, thanks for the advice.
Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800
South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
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Its stressful to be so prepared and not know if you'll get to excute the plans. I hope your buyers buy one of the houses you showed them. Best Wishes.
Norma, Great Job! also a great example of the principle of Abe's lesson. I have not been quite that prepared for any showings that I have done. I have done the days on market, etc. but I have not done as much preparation work as you did, you certainly earned the commission when these buyers do buy!
I love that quote, great post too it is all in the preparation.
Mindy & Jay - Yes, with five agents and two buyers the schedule is always subject to change!
Tony & Daracy - The buyers are looking forward to our next house hunting adventure.
Bryan - Abe was a wise man!