When Missed Showings Aren’t Your Fault
A home seller reached out to me in a full panic. Their house had been on the market for 22 days with no showings. Two weeks in, their agent suggested a price drop because the market had changed. They reduced from $399,900 to $384,900. Still nothing. Then on Saturday morning a buyer’s agent knocked on their door with clients. He said he had requested a showing the day before and never heard back. While the sellers waited nearby, they checked their email and found 14 showing requests in their junk folders. Every request from the scheduling service had been filtered to spam for both owners.
Here is the tough part. A competent listing agent should have noticed. When showings requested through a service are not confirmed the platform alerts the listing agent. Buyer’s agents often text or call when they do not receive a confirmation. Weekly activity reports summarize requests and confirmations. There were multiple points where a diligent agent would have realized something was wrong and stepped in. Instead the sellers lost valuable time and made a large price cut that may not have been necessary.
What To Do Right Now If This Sounds Like You
- Pause and gather facts. Screenshot every missed request with dates and times. Ask your agent for the platform activity report.
- Ask direct questions. Why were requests going to spam and why was that not caught. What backup process is used when owners do not confirm within a few hours. Who monitors after hours and on weekends.
- Reset the systems. Whitelist the scheduling email and text numbers. Add the platform domain to safe senders. Confirm notification settings for both owners.
- Use an electronic lockbox if you do not already have one so licensed agents access with accountability and you receive a digital trail.
- Reintroduce the listing. After alerts are fixed, refresh marketing with an update to local agents and a new blast to buyers in the platform.
- Reevaluate price only after you see real demand now that showings can actually happen.
When It Is Time To Change Agents
I rarely encourage replacing a real estate agent, but a pattern of missed basics predicts future problems. If your agent cannot explain the lapse, did not notice unconfirmed requests, and lacks a prevention plan, you are justified in interviewing replacements. You need an advocate who spots issues early, communicates clearly, and manages details from first showing to closing.
How To Prevent This From Happening Again
- Set expectations in writing for response times, weekend coverage, and the backup contact.
- Require weekly activity reports that show inquiries, showings, feedback, and next steps.
- Turn on redundant notifications for email, text, and app alerts for both owners and the agent.
- Test the system before launch by having the real estate agent request a dummy showing.
- Keep a showing ready checklist so a short notice request does not derail momentum.
A Final Word To Frustrated Sellers
Your frustration is valid. Fix the notification issues, gather the facts, and decide whether your current agent is the right person to lead you through negotiations and closing. If you want a second opinion or need a fresh start, I can connect you with a vetted real estate professional in your market who will run a tight process from the first showing to the closing table. Reach out and I will make the introduction.
