Stop driving up my driveway - call the Realtor first!!

[DancingBear]

My house is for sale. It sits on top of a hill, at the end of a 1500 foot driveway. The "For Sale" sign at the bottom of the driveway has 3 different numbers to call, including one that will give a prospective buyer ALL the details.

Why, then, do people insist on driving right up to my front door? Wouldn't you think the proper thing to do would be to call the Realtor, get an info packet, THEN come see the house, rather than make the dogs go crazy and make me have to come up from the workshop to see what's going on? I mean, after they get halfway up the driveway it's pretty obvious that someone is home, but barking dogs and open garage doors don't seem to deter these folks from their appointed nosiness.

Is this a regional thing? When I was a Realtor in New Hampshire no one would ever think of barging in like this, but people here in VA do it all the time.

Drives me crazy.

[Book Lover]

1. Because all the paperwork and phone numbers

in the world are no substitute for one's own eyes? :shrug:

[Wickerman]

2. Sorry

/putting Toyota in reverse...

Good luck on selling soon.

[underpants]

6. LOL

Fuuuuuuuuunny

[GOPisEvil]

3. MLS listings usally have a designation as to whether the

prospective buyer should call first, make an appointment or just drop on in.

Have you checked your listing? If it's noted to call first, then I'd point that out to those idiots, er, prospective buyers.

[sui generis]

4. Take a pic of the house, put some stats on it

photocopy and tie a clear plastic cylinder to your mailbox so they can get out there and take a flyer.

Maybe include a sign: "By appointment only"

[graywarrior]

5. They did it in northern NH

[democracyindanger]

7. Do Not Disturb Tenant nt

[mitchtv]

8. there should be a part of the sign that says

"do not disturb occupant" I always had a chain across mine

[Debi]

9. Your occupant?

Did you also have a gimp suit in the basement? SICKO :wow:

[mitchtv]

16. Owner is not Tenant but "occupant"

I don't get your umbrage. Proper real estate terminology

[Lex]

10. People want to SEE the house first before going through

the trouble of looking at paperwork/info packet or calling a realtor and getting voicemail 20 times.

That's what I think is happening.

[dean_dem]

11. Get a dirty kid to sit on the front porch and play the banjo....

...that'll keep them off your driveway.

[DancingBear]

12. I know what is happening re: seeing with one's own eyes

But that can be easily done from the road - or half way up the driveway.

Hell, I've come home twice already to strangers walking around my house.

Sorry, but they could easily call the realtor and ask if it's OK to drive up.

Don't even get me going about the ones who drive up without even knowing the price...

[Book Lover]

13. I don't mean

to be insensitive to your right to privacy; I was just saying what I think the thinking is... By where I live, I've also seen signs that say "Do not disturb occupant" and I think that's the best way to keep folks from intruding. Best of luck selling your place :-)

[DancingBear]

14. I get 'cha

I was just surprised at the frequency of the occurance, and just curious if it is a regional type of thing.

Heck, maybe one of 'em will buy it, which is why I'm always nice... :) :)

[amazona]

15. don't know if it's regional -- I live in the south

But certainly I am going to drive up and have a look at the house before pestering the real estate agent. My mom was a real estate agent. They only get paid when something sells. They don't have time just to take around every looky-loo who may or may not be interested in a given property. So I would want to be confident I had some sincere interest before taking their time. I looked in a lot of windows when I was house-hunting although admittedly not where any vicious dogs were chasing me off!