Sometimes I just have to ask myself “What do people expect”? In these days of ever increasing homes for sale, I am continually amazed at what some people will do in an attempt not to sell their house.

For instance, take the home seller who continually proclaims that they must sell, yet when agents call and try to set an appointment to view the house, repeated calls to the owner’s home, or the two cell phone numbers go unreturned. The lockbox still sits empty because the seller refuses to make it easy for an agent to show the home and allow easy access.

Take the seller who has refinanced and taken money out of the house several times only to find themselves owing more that the house is currently worth. Hoping beyond hope that someone will offer a higher than market price for the home, because that is what is needed in order for them to walk away with some cash.

More from the excuse file: “Well my house is a wreck and I did not have a chance to clean it, therefore I cannot have anyone show it today”. “We have people over this afternoon, so now is not a good time”. “Unfortunately, I did not get to paint it as we discussed”. “You need to give me at lease a 24 hour notice before you can show it.”

The list goes on, but now you get the idea. Selling a home is a partnership between the agent and the homeowners. Some homeowners get it, some are slow to catch on and sometimes, oh well. These days it is a must to capitalize on every opportunity. That means forget your schedule and time frame. If you really need to sell your house then bend over backwards if necessary in order to comply with an agent who is attempting to show and sell your home. Drop the mentality that is “me vs. them”, because if you don’t there is probably a house just around the corner that is ready to go into escrow.

Selling you home will be an inconvenience at times. Albeit a minor inconvenience. Your regular routine will be interrupted for a while. Accept it and keep the end goal in mind when an agent calls and says that they are just around the corner and will be there in 15 minutes.