The Hidden Way Sellers Lose Offers Without Ever Knowing

What Sellers Need to Know About Showings, Access, and Missed Offers

I probably shouldn’t be talking about this, but I’m too upset not to.
And sellers need to hear it.

If your listing agent limits access to your property, they are working against you, not for you.

Let me explain why.

What Happened and Why It Matters

Today, I had 4 showings scheduled in the suburbs. My buyers drove over 40 minutes from downtown Chicago. They were fully qualified, serious, and expecting their first baby.

One listing agent refused to provide a one-day access code.

I explained clearly that I do not have access to that specific suburban lockbox system. The required app wasn’t working, which happens. I followed the showing instructions. I provided my MLS ID. I requested a one-day code, which is common practice.

The response was simple:
“I don’t give out one-day codes.”

As a result, my buyers could only see the outside of the home. We drove there and never saw the interior.

Sellers Need to Understand This Part

A listing agent has a fiduciary duty to the seller.

That duty includes exposing the home to every qualified buyer, unless the seller has explicitly instructed otherwise. Denying access is not protecting you. It is limiting you.

When a property is vacant and a qualified, licensed agent requests access, refusing to provide reasonable entry is a direct failure to maximize exposure.

This Was Not Company Policy

What makes this worse is context.

The very next home we showed was listed by the same company, and they provided a one-day code without hesitation.

So this was not a brokerage policy.
This was one agent’s personal choice.

The Real Consequence

My buyers made an offer on a different home that same day.

Would they have offered on this property if they had seen it?
Maybe. Maybe not.

But the seller will never know, because their agent blocked access to a qualified buyer.

That opportunity is gone forever.

Why This Should Concern Every Seller

After 22 years in real estate, I can tell you this with absolute confidence:

Access matters.
Exposure matters.
And sellers lose leverage and offers when access is limited for no valid reason.

Your agent’s job is not to manage showings based on convenience.
Their job is to maximize exposure and competition.

If an agent isn’t personally showing their listing, providing reasonable access is part of the responsibility. Especially when the property is vacant.

Spending a few extra minutes to generate a one-day code should never be considered an inconvenience when the goal is selling your home for top dollar.

The Question You Must Ask Before You List

When you’re interviewing agents, ask this directly:

“Will you ensure that every qualified buyer, represented by a licensed agent, has access to my home, even when you’re not personally present?”

If the answer is anything other than yes, that should concern you.

Because anything that limits access limits your outcome.

Thinking About Selling Your Home?

If you want an agent who prioritizes exposure, access, and results, let’s talk.

📲 Call or text me at 773.719.0989 for a straightforward conversation about how your home should be marketed and shown.

Sellers, be honest.
Would this concern you? YES or NO. 👇