Showing houses in the early morning (agent, agreement, properties, Realtor)

[awestover89]

For agents, sellers, or buyers, is there etiquette for early morning showings?

My husband and I are shopping for a home, we have looked at a few already and our agent has been great, but recently my husband's work schedule was changed to nights, 10PM to 7AM. We have a couple more houses we are interested in looking at, but with my husband's work schedule we want to see them between 8 and Noon on a weekend.

Our agent is saying that most sellers do not want to open their homes that early and agents typically won't schedule showings before noon.

Technically, we could either take a day off work or have my husband try and change his sleep schedule, but everything would be extremely easier if we could just look at the houses when it was most convenient for us.

My agent said he would contact the seller agents and ask about an early morning showing, but he made it sound like it was unlikely they would agree.

Is this true in your experiences? Personally if I were a seller I would have no problem with an early morning showing, as long as there was enough of a head's up.

[1insider]

8 AM might be a little early but I begin showings at 9 M all the time and work around those sellers who don't want visitors that early. Saying "most" don't want showings before noon is outright BS and probably intended to let your agent get her beauty sleep. Other than graveyard shift workers, who sleeps until noon?

[NinaN]

There is no reason your agent can't call to see if the seller is willing to take an 8am appointment.

On the other hand, my experience is that it's hard to get a showing before 10am on the weekends.

[manderly6]

Anything after 10 AM seems reasonable to me.

[MikeJaquish]

Agreement with 10:00 on weekends.
If homes are vacant, of course, 8:00 will work.

[jaybb]

Time to change agents if they are not able to arrange a house showing in the early AM--9 AM or 10 AM. Someone who is selling their house needs to be open to this, and an agent that is not able to arrange this is failing in her job

[Jkgourmet]

If I'm the seller, I'm going to show that house whenever a qualified buyer wants to see it. Period.

But I'd appreciate appointments after a reasonable hour, which is 9am on weekends, IMO.

If your realtor has a problem scheduling these showings, I would suspect that you have a problem with your choice of realtor.

[Rakin]

I rarely show before 9am and 12 noon on Sundays. I get a lot of "Declines" if I set up much earlier.

Sundays are tough to get people up and out before noon.

[FalconheadWest]

I start Saturday showings at 9am. You call for the appointment the day before, and sellers get up and out of the house. Sunday, I usually wait until 10am. I'm not waiting until noon to ruin the rest of my day not being able to spend time with my family. Sellers want to sell and they'll get out of the house with notice.

[kww]

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

I start Saturday showings at 9am. You call for the appointment the day before, and sellers get up and out of the house. Sunday, I usually wait until 10am. I'm not waiting until noon to ruin the rest of my day not being able to spend time with my family. Sellers want to sell and they'll get out of the house with notice.

pretty much how I handle things. some sellers will gladly let you into their house early or late in the evening, if that is what it may take to get a buyer to the table..

vacant properties.. I'll start whenever (provided it's not on an electronic lockbox with specific operating hours)