Spring into Action: A Guide to Surviving the Busy Lancaster Market with a Smile

Are you ready for a busy spring market in Lancaster County? I know I am. I am optimistic that we’ll get very busy finding new homes for our buyers and selling cherished homes for our sellers. This means it’s a great time to review some housekeeping tips to keep us in the good graces of our peers. You know, some tips to keep things running smoothly.

 Let’s start with showing courtesies. Overlapping showings are back. The good news is that a listing that allows overlapping showings is going to have a fairly open schedule so you can get into the home when you want to get into the home. The challenge is that when you arrive at the property, there are three other groups touring at the same time. What if you are the one who opened the lock box, but showings are still taking place when you leave so you can’t lock up? A best practice would be to place the key back in the lockbox prior to leaving, but leave the door unlocked for the agents who are there. If you are the last one to leave a property that had multiple groups touring, then you are responsible for locking up, which may mean that you have to open the lockbox to get the key. Under no circumstances should you enter the property and lock the door to prevent other groups from touring.

If the listing you are showing does not have overlapping showings, but does have a full schedule, be mindful of your reserved time and let the next group in on time. We are all providing the same service to our buyers, allowing them access to a home they may want to purchase. Keep things positive and cooperative with your peers. Leave your card and provide feedback.

What about lock box access? We continue to have requests from agents who don’t use Supra who want special accommodations made to let them into listings. A best practice is to direct them the LCAR to get the Supra EKey. Do not ask scheduled showing agents to let other agents into your listing during their showing.

Communication is paramount for a listing agent. Of course, the seller can give you their particular instructions for handling offers, but there are some best practices that apply to most listings. Use Showingtime to let showing agents know if an offer has been received and to let agents know if there is an offer deadline. Use the agent remarks in Bright to reiterate offers and deadlines for agents who have not yet scheduled a showing. Respond to questions from buyer agents in a timely manner and confirm with buyer agents that their offer has been received. Communicate with agents who have submitted offers to let them know the time an offer will be presented. Communicate as soon as possible with agents who have submitted offers that their buyer did not get the house.

The spring market in Lancaster County is an exciting time for real estate professionals. By following these housekeeping tips, you can ensure that things run smoothly and professionally. From showing courtesies, to lockbox access, to effective communication, these tips will help you maintain good relationships with your peers and provide the best possible service to your clients. So, let’s get ready for a busy and productive spring market.

Facts, opinions and information expressed in the Blog represent the work of the author and are believed to be accurate, but are not guaranteed. The Lancaster County Association of Realtors is not liable for any potential errors, omissions or outdated information. If errors are noted within a post, please notify the Association. Posts represent the author's opinion and are not necessarily the opinion of the Association.