Proper Buyer Protocol at a Home Showing

I have recently run into a couple of incidents where buying clients of other Realtors have not acted with discretion. The number one issue seems to be bringing children to a showing and not maintaining control of their behavior in the house being shown. Children do not always act with discretion when in a new environment. Turning switches, turning valves and other such activities can occur very quickly and have negative effects. ie. gas values, shower heads, stove controls etc. The potential liability could be substantial. If you are going to bring your children to a showing please ensure that they are closely watched, if possible take them by the hand. If you were selling your home and someone was touching and manipulating important controls while looking to purchase, I am sure you would not be appreciative.

I recently had a situation where the adults on a showing were testing a newly designed shower head and steam shower. When the owners returned to find that the controls had been changed they felt violated. When people go to look at a house that is what they show do LOOK! Messing around and snooping in drawers and other private items is a strict no-no. I once heard of a Realtor actually lighting a wood fireplace, then leaving the home. The result was a fully destroyed home. Turned out to be a very expensive showing!

I think that the most obvious rule of thumb when looking at possible homes to buy is to keep your hands to yourself, and treat the home the way you would want others to treat you home if you were selling. The time to check out the switches and levers is turning the property inspection time as the appropriate time to fully check things out. Even then the use of good judgment is called for.