Okay, you found the property; now let's see it!

There are two types of properties:

1. FSBO properties



2. Listed properties

Both property types can be seen by private showing or open house

How do you find out if the house is open, and when?

For listed properties:
Call the broker at the phone number in the advertisement in:

• the newspaper
• the magazine
• the internet web site ad
• the e-mail alert we sent (if you subscribe)
• off the yard sign

For FSBO properties call the seller directly and ask. Most sellers would prefer for you to schedule a private showing, unless the property is vacant and they live far enough away to make those showings inconvenient for them.

The real trick is viewing the listed properties!

• If all agents were exceptionally good, this wouldn't be a problem from your viewpoint.



• If issues of agency and representation didn't arise, this wouldn't be a problem from any viewpoint!



• If all buyers were equally-well informed and capable of buying a home, just like they would a car, then viewing any property would not be a possible problem!

You, the buyer, need to determine how listed properties are to be viewed, with an eye towards the possible purchase of that property!

Here are the possibilities:

1. You first see the property with the listing agent and write an offer through that agent



2. You first see the property with the listing agent and write an offer through another agent



3. You first see the property with another agent who works in the same office as the listing agent and write an offer through that agent or the listing agent



4. You first see the property with another agent who works in the same office as the listing agent and write an offer through a third agent



5. You first see the property with an agent who works in a different office (different broker) than the listing agent and write an offer through the listing agent



6. You first see the property with an agent who works in different office (different broker) than the listing agent and write an offer through that agent



7. You work exclusively through a buyer's agent who shows you any listed (or FSBO) property you want to see with the intent of representing you in any contract offer



8. You work exclusively through a transaction agent who shows you any listed (or FSBO) property you want to see with the intent of helping you without representing you in any contract offer







Each of the above scenarios has a possible problem or conflict - so we advise you to brush up on our primer to worhing with agents, called "Agency 101".