Put yourself in the realtor's shoes? If someone calls you and wants to see the house at the spur of the moment, do you turn them away or do you try to make it happen hoping the house sells? 24 hours notice would be great in a perfect world. Does it always happen? If you're trying to sell a house, keeping it in "show" condition is on you. A realtor that turns prospective buyers away isn't going to sell many houses. The realtor wants to sell the house as bad as you do cause they don't get paid unless it happens.

If you had to have several discussions on providing an honest advance notice, I understand your concern. But sometimes you gotta just say WTF and go for it. Feeding a baby in the arm just may provide that emotional "home feel" to a young buyer.

And as for a few messes, openly saying the owner had 15 minutes notice and the house still looks great provides a message on how the property is kept. I've experienced a couple ex DIL's that it's obvious they were never learned on cleaning a house. Cleaning was the last thing on their mind. You just gotta roll the dice sometimes.

I could show my house right now if it were for sale. My wife keeps it that way, we have two kids, a dog, and she works a full time job, and feeds the cows at night too.

We are trying to sell our house now. Realtor gives at least 12 hour notice. But befor I leave for work our house is spotless everyday. I want it to sell and be presentable at anytime no matter how short the notice. I will never turn down a showing

I understand the notice... But as a buyer, I'm not concerned with how it looks with your furniture or how clean it is... I'm more concerned with the overall condition of the house and whether the layout fits what I'm looking for.... Looking clean,vacuumed,and dusted ain't gonna make or break my decision....

That's what we did when we were selling.

I understand your situation however if you cant take a joke you shouldn't join up. Its sales, and it can suck, never say no to a qualified buyer. Your place is for sale how bad do you want to sell it? If you say I need x hrs notice, that prospect may just wind up buying someone Else's house and not yours. Buyers understand trust me they have seen it all. Yes your realtor should communicate with you but your on the market and other realtors see your property and after a search and are ready to show. Just make shure it smells good. Good luck and hang in there don't be afraid to change relator's.

Just an expression PRP. Ive been there showing your home to the public sucks. You put a for sale sign in your yard though, be ready to show at any time. How bad do you want to sell?
Good luck hope you do well!

I've never bought or sold a house. Sounds like fun.

FSBO

Unless there's feces on the floor and roaches in the cabinets, I'd tell them the clutter is free of charge. Laugh about it and live in your home. That's what it's for. I wouldn't expect new parents to live in smithsonian condition.

I hear ya. We just went through all of that mess. With a 3 and 6 year old we told our agent 24 hour notice. She did show it one time with just 3-4 hour notice. It was in good shape at the time to show so we said what the heck. She tried it on another a occasion and I had to remind her of the 24 hour agreement. That was that and it sold within 2 months.

When I was buying I often called my agent because I saw an interesting house & said "get me in!", I understand & ignored the clutter, but if I was turned away I rarely bothered to go back.

Likewise when we were selling I would tell the agent to mention that because of short notice they might see a pair of dirty socks that missed the hamper or folded laundry on the breakfast table, we live in a house, not a museum!

The people that bought our last house came while we were there. The agent wanting to show arrived shortly after calling our agent on the way. Yeh, kinda pissed us off but what do you do?

Wife and I took our kids (ages 5 & 4 at the time) outside to the trampoline and swing set after telling them to excuse the house and we would be outside if they had any questions. Signed a contract with them later that week. Trust me, those buyers see some jacked up houses while looking. I know we did while looking, but I didn't pay any attention to the mess.

Good luck with everything! It'll all work out in the end.

If you want to sell the house---- Show it! They are not worried about the small stuff!

Guys ..let me try to help here. I am a real estate investor AND a real estate agent.

Sometimes you have no say as an AGENT in WHEN a potential buyer wants to view a property. Many drive by, see a sign and want to see it immediately.

They may be putting in an offer on a similiar house,..or have one in and waiting for an answer..when BAM...they see your house and decide ..wow..I think I like this one better. We better get in right now before the other seller comes back on our offer.

They call their agent and say we need to get in now. The agent says they cant until the next day..BAM..TOO LATE. the other seller calls...and the people buy a different house. and yours still sits on the market...unsold..in a market where sales are SSSLLLOOOWWW already.

Dont get me wrong..I even put on the listing sheet 24 hours notice required...but if you think a HOME BUYER cares about that you are mistaken.

I also tell all my clients ( not many..lol..I sell or properties or friends) to try to be ready to show it without much warning. Buyers overlook a little mess...believe me.

Id rather show a house a little messy then NOT SHOW IT AT ALL. The only one you are hurting by not allowing it shown is your self. Especially in this market.
Straighten it up as much as possible before going to work and let it be shown is my opinion.

Went through all that ourselves. Chewed on the agent one time. All it took.

I required a 24 hour notice for any viewing.

The kicker is, the people that bought our home were driving by, noticed it, stopped and talked around dark. They asked about a viewing, told them call our agent.

Because I knew the situation I allowed them to view at 9am the next morning. I had time to straighten it up first.

Your agent can't help others showing up wanting a showing. I'd not blame her, I'd let them view with my approval and with the understanding of the cleanliness of the property. Then I'd not worry about it.

NEVER turn away a potential buyer.

With all that said, if you want to have some fun, get home before your wife (after a showing) and drag her undies out in the open. Either make it look like she left them out or the buyers sifted through them.