This is a warning to ALL sellers, first time or not.

Make SURE your agent is doing everything they can to facilitate showings at your home. Assuming that YOU have been very flexible about showing times and provided a key for a lockbox, make sure YOUR AGENT is not hindering showings.

I had an experience today that really annoyed me, which is what prompted this. I took my buyer clients to a home about 20 minutes away. It was a re-listing (so the same agent), but it came on the MLS yesterday. Notes say to call owner first (I did) and go direct as there is a lockbox.

Hah! Got to the home with my clients and no lock box. Called the seller - very apologetic but they had taken the keys to the agent yesterday but the box was clearly not in place. So I called the agent (talked to their admin to let them know of my displeasure and the inconvenience, and waste of our time).

Now, I ask you - is this agent doing what they should to facilitae showings for this seller? Nope. No note in the MLS that the lockbox was not in place. Oh and BTW the brochure box was empty (not that I need it but buyers driving by do...not very good service IMO).

I have run into other situations recently where agents do not return calls to me when I want to show a home but an appointment is needed (personally if I were that seller I would be REALLY annoyed).

OK, enough grumbling. But I do feel it's important that you know about these sorts of things so you can make sure YOUR home is not getting sabotaged by an agent who is NOT doing the job.