Having just finished the home search myself, there were a few occasions where the owner was still "around" when we looked at their property. One owner simply opened the door for us and went for a short walk in the neighborhood. Another got in her car and took a drive (and we ended up buying her house!) As long as you feel safe doing so, that makes sense.

You don't have an exterior door they can lock on the way out and for which you have a key?

We didn't do lock boxes either, but just asked that the door be locked when they were done.

Could you leave a key under a doormat or in the mailbox? Definitely leave the house...go for a walk or drive. If you have a cell phone, I'd ask them to give you a call when they are done.

Thanks maybe I will do the doormat thing and the key and ask them to call when done. That would keep me from having to be there at all. Not sure I'm comfortable with not at least seeing who it is that is visiting without meeting them, but the realtor I met with today (whom I'm considering using) knew the realtor visiting so maybe it is OK. Will make sure to take out any small valuables just in case.

I wish I had so they could lock and leave the key inside, but we don't have any locks like that.

Or leave the door unlocked just before they arrive when you leave 10 minutes beforehand(and don't leave a key) and ask realtor to lock door before she leaves. (If your locks allow to be locked without the key.)

Your idea to see the lookers...what is that going to do? A bad person doesn't always look like Charles Manson, so if you are trying to tell good from evil, forget about it. Just get out of there and let the realtor do her job.

I wouldn't ask them to call when they left. Just ask her to leave her card on the kitchen counter. Then when you come home - you will know that they are NOT there when there is no car in the driveway. And then you will see her card, so you know that she was there already.

DO take your valuables..store them in your car when you leave or hide them somewhere. You need to do this when you start showing the home to other folks anyway. Also remove family photos(else buyer will be looking at those and NOT the home).

Boy, I feel like I crawled out from under a rock with my answer, but I would not at all, in any way be comfortable with showing a home I was still living in and not have some sort of supervision when buyers go through. I trust my agent to accompany lookers through my house and although I'm sure no agent would want to come across as a security guard, in essence they are.

If this is an empty house, I'd not be so concerned, but if it isn't........how in the world would you know they wouldn't be unlocking windows for easy access later, taking key impressions, peeking in things they had no business peeking into like mail, or handling valuables they may damage or .....uhem..........worse.

Do you think that every person who owns a home, or is looking for one, or who calls a realtor requesting to see a home has never done anything like that?

I don't know why you would rather not be there, you may have very valid reasons, but it isn't your fault the buyer's agent can't be there, or won't ask an associate to cover for them. I have shown my home so far as many times as my agent. I'd prefer not to, but if it means I may miss a sale I will. It's empty for all practical purposes but I still am not comfortable inviting a stranger in and telling them to pull a door shut. I have known of vacant homes where thieves have come in and ripped out carpet, stolen copper plumbing, and made off with appliances. In one instance when I was in law enforcement, one home in a remote area got hit two nights in a row. The first night the thieves stole the two watchdogs. That made night two easy pickings.

I'm with Calliope on this and would not be comfortable in this situation. The way I look at it, you are doing a FSBO right now and if the buyers are uncomfortable with it, they should wait for you to list it.

What we've done is brought them inside and shown them around. I've taken it upon myself to open closets for them and have said that they should feel free to open the cabinets if they wanted to see them. When I've looked at houses I really didn't need to see the kitchen cabinets because lets face it, unless they are something special they are cabinets. I did open pantries. I've told them that I am also a buyer and I understand that they may want to open cabinets or what ever.

If you feel that the buyers agent is ok to walk them around the house, by all means let them and go sit on the porch if it makes you feel better. I wouldn't ask that they lock up on their own, nor would I just leave them there especially since you really aren't listed.

Good luck!

lyfia: "I hadn't planned on doing a FSBO, but got a buyers agent that contacted me through neighbors that know I'm going to sell asking if I would be willing to show the house to her clients before listing it."

calliope: "...it isn't your fault the buyer's agent can't be there, or won't ask an associate to cover for them."

I believe that you have misinterpreted what lyfia posted. The way I read that statement is that the buyers' agent wanted to know whether lyfia was willing to have the house shown to prospective buyers even though it wasn't yet on the market. The buyers' agent would be accompanying her clients. Assuming I am reading the statement correctly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with leaving the house while the buyers' agent tours the house with her clients. In fact, that is the way it is done in many markets around the country. In such markets, the listing agent is never present for showings.

Just a few thoughts--will there be an agent? If not, NO would I let anyone in--what if they fall and hurt themselves, look in places they should not, take pictures of items, damage anything--how do you prove this to your insurance co.
Also what legalities if they look, and buy--and then the agent will want a commission even thought you did not sign???

If you planned to list with an agent it will give you a little more protection, and if it is not with the agent that wants you to show the house, and you choose some one else, will this be a possible split commission?

Yes, I may have very well misinterpreted her intention because when she said the buyer's agent asked her if "I would be willing to show the house to her clients". I took it literally, and assumed that the agent was asking her to show the house herself. As Rosanna Rosannadanna used to say. NEVERMIND.

If that is the case, I'd meet the gang at the door, and tell the buyer's agent she could lock up, and come drop the key off at the nearest restaurant where I'd be having a cuppa coffee, and she could join me and fill me in on the transaction and return my key.

calliope: " As Rosanna Rosannadanna used to say. NEVERMIND."

Actually, that would be Emily Litella. Roseanne's signature line wsa "It's always somethin." ;-)

Ah, but both wonderful characters from the wonderful Gilda Radner, whose bright wit was extinguished much too soon. May she be forever remembered.

I stand corrected twice. Gilda really was pretty special.

Well I just wanted to see the people to be able to identify them not tell if they look bad or not, but have gotten a reference from another realtor (that I interviewed for listing my house) that knows this realtor, so I think I'm going to make sure I don't see them at all.

The buyers agent will be accompanying their clients.

I actually have another showing too today as one of the agents that I interviewed for listing has a client they want to bring by before the house is listed too after they heard about the other showing. They didn't want their client to miss seeing it in case it never got listed. I won't be there for that one either.

I hope some of Patty_cakes fairy dust will work on either of these showings so I don't even have to go through the process of listing.

mariend - I would pay the buyers agent their 3% commission and it will be part of the contract/offer. I've also asked when interviewing agents about excluding certain people from the listing. All the ones I'm interested in working with have been willing to do that as well as offer to see it through for me for a flat fee or a low percentage. I'm not worried about that part as it would all be done at contract time (offer) and I'm not sure that will happen, so will cross that bridge when it happens on exactly what to do.

How did your 2 showings go?

Looks like the showings went well. The first one I got a call from the realtor saying she was likely going to put together an offer today, but got a call later from the agent asking if they could do a second visit tomorrow and see if she can open some areas up to suit what she wants better.

The second showing seems to have gone well and I'm meeting with their buyers agent tomorrow and they are presenting an offer.

Wow, great news and I hope you get an offer worth considering.

Wow! You are very lucky if this all goes well. I'm amazed that you didn't have to list, and you have interest already.

Where are you located?

Good luck btw

Something to think about. If the buyer is represented by a Buyer's Agent who wanted you to let her show it before you listed it.... and she is preparing an offer to purchase... ... that will also mean that the offer will probably include your paying representation for the Buyer's agent - reducing your price by the amount they figure you saved with having no Seller's representation. I would strongly suggest you go ahead and have your Realtor assist you in negotiations to be sure your deal is as profitable as it can be for you. You don't want to be the unrepresented one in this market. A good Listing Agent will have strong negotiation strategies and know what pitfalls to watch out for in the qualification of the Buyer's etc. The Realtor really earns their money in the negotiation and closing processes and can save you far more liability than they cost you.!

How are you making out?

Well so far so good I guess. The contract is signed, but the option period doesn't end until the end of this week so we'll see what happens. Inpsections are this week and if all goes well we're closing in a couple of weeks. With all the bad luck that we've had so far this year I just can't get over the feeling that something will go wrong as it would be more the norm than it going smoothly so we'll see.

I really didn't feel the need to negotiate their offer so I dropped the idea of an agent as they offered more than my asking and only a financing contingency. I did have a lawyer review it and their agent kept calling me to find out where we were until I sent it back signed. Even though it was over the weekend.

Congrats, lyfia, and I am glad you mentioned that you had a lawyer review your contract. When we sold our house FSBO, we had an offer for $4K more than our asking, with the stipulation that we pay closing costs. I thought the buyer probably made the offer that way because she was short on cash, and at first it seemed to be our best offer. But when I asked what the closing costs would be, they were $9K or something ridiculous like that (Nehemiah pgm). I don't think the buyer's agent was planning to tell us that - there certainly was no mention of a specific dollar amount for closing costs in the contract.

Hopefully, this is an isolated case, but just wanted to warn other FSBOs to read the contract VERY carefully if you are new to the game, and to be sure to have someone more experienced review it. I feel lucky to have caught that, and won't try to save a few bucks by skipping the lawyer review next time!

They sell lockboxes at lowes
It may help to be there and answer questions so long as you don't follow them around. I don't see why you need to leave. What part of FSBO don't you understand?