If you start to hear comments that they have been looking maybe for over a year of more, sometimes when they start saying things about other agents that couldn't  help them????? I get a little worried when they find something wrong with every home they look at. I live in a 2nd home market so when they start talking about how they have looked for the last several times they were in town and could not find anything I start thinking that this is just  what they do on vacation, they look at cabins!

I had a buyer last week, we've worked on and off for 2 months. FInancially stable, loved a couple of houses but his expectation were way off when it came to prices. Out of nowhere he decided to rent after spending many weekends and evening with him. Did I expect it? NO

I usually can tell if a buyer is serious or not, and I really thought he was. With buyers you just never know.

John,

When I have shown them a home that meets as close to the requirements they stated they are looking for and it does not get them excited I am ready to sit down and have another serious conversation with them.  I ask them are they sure they are ready to buy now, if you need more time let me know and we can resume looking at a later time.  However, more than likely all the homes we have viewed will be either sold or under contract.  At this point I tell them "the next time I can show is" and I will make it a week or so later.  If they say fine I figure they are not serious and I put them in the follow up file.

If the buyers won't sign a buyer/broker agreement; and, after showing them 75 homes, and, after they decide to make a low-ball offer on the 23rd home, and, after I had to take them out to lunch and dinner for 4 days, and, after their escrow check bounces, and, after their cell phone number is no longer in service, I start to begin feeling like I've been hosed.

John:

I have a non-married couple that I have shown off and on for 1.5 years. Finally I just send them the info and I don't go with them.  These are also the two I posted about the other day.  If they choose to go with another agent so be it.  However, they still call me weekly. I just can't spend every weekend with them.  They argue with each other all the time as well.  No fun for me.

How about sellers that aren't serious? I have one that had to have me out fast to list the house. They wanted a quick sale, I showed them my market analysis and told them that if they want a quick sale to price it at $xxx. They did. Several quick showings, not the right home for the buyers.

About 3 weeks after listing and pushing marketing, Ms. Seller calls me and requested showings on weekends only and with 24 hours notice because she had to work nights now. Showings have stopped, not one since note was made in MLS about weekends only. Needless to say, I have stopped marketing also. No complaints from the seller about lack of activity either.

On my very first listing, the seller did not really want to sell.  Thing is, she'd had it on the market for 6 months the previous year and she called me.  About a month into the listing, she started changing things about showings.  No open houses and she needed 4 hours notice - not too unreasonable, but then she wanted it shown only during daylight hours - not unreasonable in the summer when we have 16 hours of daylight here in Seattle, but this was late fall when we have only about 8 hours of light with sunset at about 4:30 p.m. - not convenient for people who work.  Her response to my objection was that if it was important enough for someone to find a house, they could take of work early!

As hard as it was to do on my first listing, I fired her.

Oh - and she has not relisted the property again and it's 3 years later.

John, best indicator for me is the sundial instead of the wrist watch. I put my foot down when they walk in with a calendar strapped to their wrist.

lol