Showing Fails

If you’ve been a Realtor for at least a month, you’ve probably had some sort of showing fail. Something did not go smoothly for you. There are just too many variables to control with pets, stairs, keys, safety, people and houses. I thought I was going to talk with agents and collect the 10 best showing fail stories. Instead, I posted a request on Facebook for these stories and got way more than 10. It’s hard to choose, so I decided to include all of the stories from our local agents (and one home inspector), mostly active agents and some retired. Instead of the top 10 stories, I realized that there are 10 themes that the showing fails fit into. And some of the stories actually fit into more than one theme. Here goes . . .

1. Vacant / Not Vacant

House was listed as vacant. Still knocked on the door and got no answer. Walked in and a guy yelled out asking who we were. I explained and he said, “I’m just in the shower, you can come on up.” We decided to just look at the downstairs and skip viewing the upstairs. ~ Sherry Kenderdine

As we entered the last bedroom, there on the floor fast asleep was a homeless man. Without missing a beat I told my buyers a homeless man does not convey. ~ Diane Dilworth

2. Stairs

Does rolling down the attic stairs and landing on a concrete slab count? ~ Sherry Kenderdine

I slid down the stairs and broke my leg. Cancelled 7 more showings for that client. Never did sell them anything. ~ Kris Lundquist

Showing my sweet clients and their kiddos a home. The stairs were slick from our dew-covered shoes, and I fell the ENTIRE flight of stairs — praying I wouldn’t take out their kiddos like bowling pins. ~ Jennifer King

I was showing a town house to a sweet, single dude when I was newly licensed and thought it was necessary to deck out in stilettos, form-fitting dresses and the whole nine yards. I slipped down the ENTIRE FLIGHT of stairs; and yes, my dress ended up almost above my head in a not-so-lady-like manner with carpet burn all over my legs. He was gracious, helped me up and we continued on with the showing. Walked out into the yard and my heels sunk the entire way into the soft ground, and I proceeded to fall flat on my face. Only my pride was hurt, and he ended up buying the house . . . so all is well that ends well. And I don’t wear heels or tight dresses to showings anymore. ~ Melanie Musser

My very first video tour several years ago. I was super nervous as it was all new technology to me. I was shaking. All was going fine until I dropped my phone on the way up the stairs from the basement to the first floor. My phone flew apart into like three pieces. By the time I got it all back together and rebooted, my buyers in Florida were completely freaking out and trying to figure out if they should call 911. They thought I fell down the stairs. ~ Kendra Rhinier

3. Humbling Incidents

I had a showing on St. Patrick’s Day in Summit Hills. It had just snowed, and the house was vacant. It was one of the houses on a hilltop. Anyway, I was of course in a suit and leather shoes. As the buyers who I was meeting for the first time pulled up, I slipped in the snow and slide down the driveway. Anyway, I chose to walk up the grass to get in after introducing my snowy self. ~ Ryan Quindlen

I walked into a HUGE spider web entering a home! My clients told me the spider was on my back, and I started screaming and shaking my hair and body all over! ~ Donna Giovingo

I was showing a home that had a working, vintage elevator with a manual gate. Buyers opted to take the stairs, but I decided to give the elevator a go. When I got up to the second floor, the gate wouldn’t open and I couldn’t get out. Of course I started to panic, frantically pulling on the gate and I may or may not have yelled “help” until the buyers opened the door behind me in the rear of the elevator. The “in” door was not the “out” door on the second floor. ~ Cheri Bushong

4. Cats

Well I was on the listing side, but someone showed my listing. I got a frantic call from the seller who said the agent failed to close the closet door which had a sign on it because there was a floor board missing. Their cat ended up in the floor and they were frantic wondering if they were going to have to rip up all the hardwood to rescue their cat! All worked out in the end, but it’s a clear example why you should obey seller signs even if you don’t understand why. ~ Nancy Keller

Ohhh forgot this one . . . I was showing a house in Mountville on a cold evening, and the cutest cat greets us at the door when I unlocked. Rubbed up against me and just let itself in like it belonged there. About an hour after the showing I get a frantic call from the seller asking whose cat I let in as they don’t own any cats . . . I apologized profusely and explained that she just let herself in like she had lived there her whole life. ~ Melanie Musser

5. Naked Men (far too many of these stories, IMO)

Showing a multi-unit apartment building, and all tenants confirmed the showing. Opened one apartment with my buyers on my heels only to see a man sleeping at 1:00 in the afternoon completely naked on the bed. Needless to say, I asked him not to see us out! ~ Wendy Stauffer

About 10 years ago I had a showing set up in the morning. Rang the bell and nobody answered. Unlocked the door and started to walk in. A man came running downstairs in his underwear saying that they had accepted an offer the night before. No one told me — this was back when the showing agent was supposed to call us with updates and cancellations. ~ Donna Giovingo

After being told the property was vacant for my showing, I knocked once upon arrival (habit even when I am told the house is vacant). I turned the key only to be greeted by a NAKED man still towel drying from his shower. My clients were speechless. I was startled! The very nice man said with a smile and a welcoming hand gesture to please come on it. I said thank you but I will reschedule! ~ Julie Diener

It was a tenant-occupied home in Bausman. I had used Supra for access, and we had already looked at the living room and kitchen before heading back the hall to the bedrooms. As we started back the hall, I heard something and called out, “Hello?” No answer . . . I cautiously proceeded and called again. No answer. As we rounded the corner, we saw the bedroom door was open and a naked boy was sitting on the bed smoking a joint. He waived at us and said, “Hi.” I apologized, and we quickly left. ~ Tracy Seiger

6. Clandestine Meetings

Not showing related, but home inspection related . . . walked in with the buyer and her agent to find a teenage girl playing hooky with her boyfriend in her bed. ~ Matt Steger

I was showing in Chelsea Manor — a go and show. Walk in, and it’s vacant. My clients say, “Sounds like the shower is on.” I yell, “Hello.” I hear some commotion and someone yells, “Please wait outside, just using the shower.” Five minutes later a man and woman come outside and apologetically let us in. Hmmmm. ~ Ryan Quindlen

I was at a showing, the seller wife confirmed the appointment. As usual I rang the doorbell, knocked and then entered. We started showing the home and talking to my clients when I heard a “hello”. Apparently the wife did not inform the husband about the showing, and he was with his ????? Needless to say, I kept my clients in half the house so they could make a getaway without too much embarrassment . . . . ~ Lori Weaver

7. Keys

One time I was showing a house and the only way to get to the front door was via the deck. The slats were “maybe” a quarter inch apart. You guessed it . . . just as I held the key to unlock the door, I dropped it. It fell down perfectly between the slats. Of course there was no access to under-the-deck, nor was I going under there even if there was! Had to eat Humble Pie as we could not gain access to the home for the showing. ~ Jennifer King

I was showing an old farmhouse in the winter, so it was already dark outside. I jiggled the key out of the lockbox just as it slipped from my fingers and fell in a tiny crack between the deck and the threshold. Buyers were determined to get in though, and they were fully amused by this situation. Thankfully the detached garage was unlocked, so we found some long metal thing. The three of us worked together to fish that darn key out in the dark, and we finally got it! To this day, they bring that up as the best showing experience, especially when I show them homes in the dark . . . they’re now looking for their next home! ~ Stephanie Torres

8. Drugs

One time I was showing a home in the City and of course the tenants claimed they were not aware of our showing. So we proceeded to just boldly enter, only to realize we were in the middle of a drug deal going down! ~ Jennifer King

I had buyers of new construction. Some finishing tile work was still happening after closing. While Mom and I were doing a tour of the house, we had forgotten about the guy. The door was closed to the bathroom; and when we opened it, we found said tile guy shooting up in there. Mom closed the door as quickly as she opened it and just looked at me. “Was he doing what I think he was?” Needless to say, he did not finish the tile job. ~ Kendra Rhinier

The first building I ever listed and sold was a pizza parlor on the first floor and a frat house on the upper floors. The first showing was a horrible day-after-party atmosphere with a lot of bongs, gross congealed food and sticky floors with half consumed cans of stale beer literally everywhere. The owner had to threaten to tell their parents (who had signed the lease) to get them to clean things up and keep it ‘decent’ until it sold. ~ Althea Ramsay Carrigan

Southside of Lancaster. As we walked out on the front porch to leave, we saw a drug deal happening on the corner. I saw the people look at each other. They loved the house, and it was affordable for them. All I could think of to save the sale was, “And it’s within walking distance to the local crack dealer, too!” I never heard from them again. ~ Robert Horning

9. Just Funny

I had an open house with the Realtor asleep on the couch. I completed the showing with my clients, and the Realtor never woke up. ~ Lori Weaver

Years ago we used to go on tour to see agents’ new listings. I was a brand new agent, and we all piled into cars to see a townhouse in East Hempfield. Everyone walked into the house on the left, and I walked into the house on the RIGHT! The owners were eating breakfast and I said, “Good morning.” I then proceeded to go up the steps and check out the second floor. I came back down and told them that they had a lovely home. They said thank you. When I was getting back in the car, the other agents were asking me which house did I go in???? Oops! ~ Rina Aliotta

When you’re showing a home and spot your own face defaced on the refrigerator . . . I did not know the sellers and am still unsure how they got one of my grocery list pads, but I wrote them a note on it and put a new business card beside it. ARRRR. ~ Cheri Bushong

10. Faulty Homes

My husband was a new agent and showing a FSBO. The client and their parents walked out onto the deck. The buyer couple walks off the deck just as the deck gives way from the house as they ride the deck down about a story off the ground. Thankfully my husband and the parents were OK. To this day my husband tests the deck before anyone steps out onto it! ~ Wendy Stauffer



If I was meeting a buyer at a property, I would try to run through it before they arrived. So I went to a flip on Laurel and closed the door behind me. I tried to open up just before the buyer arrived, and I panicked. I could not get out . . . not with a key or with pushing and pulling. The windows . . . they were painted shut. Once the buyer arrived, we were able to eventually open up just enough for me to climb out! This was before cell phones and before we dressed more casually — I was in a skirt suit. ~ Lena Hohenadel

Click here to see a video that accompanies my article on Showing Fails.

Lisa Naples, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices HomeSale Realty

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