I would first try and get someone in my company and then i would call the listing agent, most good listing agents will understand and do it.

I formed a sort of partnership with another agent for us to cover each other in case of emergencies and vacations. That way we never have to worry our clients will always be taken care of.

I did that for a buyers' agent on Saturday - my goal is to sell my sellers' properties and if you're an agent and can't show my listing, I would love the opportunity to sell that listing...because I CAN!  ;-)

Hope all is well with your family, Frank Rubi.

Need to manage expectations, I would have pulled out my calendar and told them my next available appointment time and scheduled them in.

What are these children who cannot wait a day?

First and foremost, you did the right thing in being with your family (many agents would go to the showing!).  With the "hot-ness" of some markets I totally understand the buyer not wanting to wait...  I have a few agents to call upon as back up support in these situations.  Glad the listing agent was helpful!

     First, I hope that your family member is over the illness, and feeling better.

      Written Buyer Brokerage Contracts are the only way to protect your clients and your commission.  There are many listing agents out there who would legally, and arguably rightfully, write "your" buyer up, and cut you out of the deal.

I have backup agents to call to help in a pinch..I would do the same for them. You were lucky.not all listing agents are as helpful. I would but I know many who would not!

That's the way we should work together.   Always a bit safer to have a back-up agent you trust.

In your shoes, I'd have called the listing agent first and asked her/him to do me a huge favor and to show the home as opposed to having my client contact them.

Lucky you had such a cooperative and profesional listing agent. 

Call one of my partners? And if you don't have partners or team members, see if you can make friends with someone from the office and exchange those sort of helpful services.

The impatience of today's buyers is appalling. How very ballsy of the buyer to call the listing agent. I would give him a talking to about how he may have given away important information or his strategy and to not do that again.

I have on occasion offered to find buyers another agent to assist them when I really can't be there. No one has taken me up on it yet.

When the market gets hot and people will lose out on the house if they aren't in there ASAP, it can be challenging finding someone that can get them in.

I have just recently run into that and I was honest with my buyer on what was going on. I also said if they couldn't wait I would refer them to someone. It all worked out and they waited for me.

That's a good solution. And perhaps a call, also, to that agent, but I suspect you already did that.Not all listing agents would be that wiling to help or would consider the buyer their client.

I have also called on other agents in my office that I like and trust to help

If for some reason they need to see it today I would find someone to show the property

The Listing Realtor was a huge help, and I'm so sorry to read about an unexpected family illness.  It sounds like everyone was very honest in this situation and how exciting to have a Contract in the works - Best of Luck, and I hope that your family is doing well Frank Rubi.  I love reading when people 'work together'!! 

You are lucky that the listing agent was willing to help you. 

Glad the listing agent helped.

Frank Rubi - nice to see this is working out well for you and for your clients.

Good Luck for next steps.

Most of the time Dad covers for me and I for him. 

Same thing.

Frank, I would explain to the client that the unexpected family illness is preventing me from showing it.  If possible, I'd try to get another agent in the office to do me a favor and show the buyer.  Worst case a quick call to the listing agent to setup a showing is fine.  I've been on the listing agent side before, especially when hosting open houses or with HOT listings.  I just treat it like a dual agency while showing and then let the buyer go back to their agent.  It's important for the buyer to know why you can't show them, because this is where some agents try to steal your buyer.

It's always nice when to hear stories of cooperation, kindness and collaboration in our business.  Good luck with your client's transaction.

I hope all is better with your family.  

Scott Godzyk nailed this one!

Thanks for sharing

Do not discuss personal matters with clients nor say  Might, sounds like your unsure, unwilling, Never lie to a client. I would state, " That's Great", I would  love to show you that property. I need to call to set up the appointment, contact the seller's agent for availability and today would be a little difficult for me with my schedule, Would tommorrow at 9am or 11am work for you?

It takes all of us working together to get anything done.

None of us know when calamity will knock on our door.

Take care of your family. 

The rest will work itself out. 

Frank,

We maintained great relationships in the brokerage community.  When my father passed away, I had someone coming in from NY to look at office spaces, as well as several other appointments.  I was able to show the out of town ones, and Ron handled the rest.  If I could not have done that, I would have asked the building managers to show, or one our agents in our office,  A

Great example real estate is a team sport

I'm glad that worked out for you, Frank.

Would have called the lisitng agent if I were unable to show and had no one who could fill in for me. Why was the customer so insistent? Good luck!

I think your buyer has a problem that he couldn't wait ONE DAY? Kudos to the agent but still, your buyer is someone to watch out for.

I have a back up to help me, I do it for them all the time.

I have had that too, and sometimes the listing agent is not so cooperating, and will opt to not pay you.    Be sure to get that in writing.

I am fortunate to have agent partners to step in here and in Florida

I would ask one of my close Realtor partners to show the property if possible.  It was a great thing that the listing agent stepped up and helped your client.

Glad everything worked out in your situation. I would have called the LA directly and explained your emergency. Most listing agents are cooperative.

Another reason I have a team to help

we have done that many times with our listings....we are fully prepared and expect to co-broke on every listing.... it's the clean deal.... we show the property and we have written the offer if the buyer's agent is not available.... we did one deal start to finish and kept the buyer's agent in the loop.... mail the commission check to her....  WE LISTED THE PROPERTY WHEN THE NEW OWNERS WANTED TO SELL!!! well worth the effort....

I'd show the property. As the listing agent that is part of my job. Why not help a fellow real estate agent. We all need help from time to time. 

Glad it worked out; no back up? You could've asked the LA to help too.

It's nice to work with good agents like the one that helped you out, it helps restore our faith in humanity.

The show must go on....I remember Lou Costello of Abbot & Costello fame doing a live skit when he was told his kid drowned in a pool. The show went on and in the entertainment industry, that is like getting a purple heart. From another point of view, I had a potential client text me when I had the flu. I told him so as I wasn't clear-headed & was sleepy. He insisted on discussing his property and how to proceed I rose to it. Consider all this

There are three of us that work closely together. Between us usually one of us can make the appointment. Sounds like that listing agent is a reputable agent. -Kasey

Frank Rubi I don't think your client should have gone around you to the listing agent. Since they did, it was good the listing agent was cooperative. It doesn't always happen that way. Good luck with your offer.