Why have your sellers listed a home on Friday and requesting no showings until Sunday? They've missed the two best days for showings! Many agents don't work on Sundays here, so Fridays & Saturdays are their big showing days. And, most agents don't particularly care to show homes during open houses either.

As for making an exception, that would totally be your sellers' call but, I would strongly encourage them not to. Rules are rules and it is stated in MLS that they don't want any showings until Sunday. If they say they are ready for the one, then they should be ready for all MLS members & their buyers.

Oh for God's sake, the house is active it's available show it!

Funny thing is that I just ran into this very sort of situation couple days ago. Listing agent makes rules about showings.... is the seller aware of this? Does the seller approve or are they the seller's instructions? That showings are being prevented by the listing agent for the purposes of pushing those showings on open house day?

Really?

By mysterious means, the seller found out about my showing request on Friday (which had been denied and pushed to the Sunday open house), it was like "oh ya?", instantly approved and welcomed by the seller - come on over. Listing agent called me thereafter... very humbled.... I'm not sure he still has the listing... let me check...

I say put it in the MLS when it is ready to be shown. Never held back!

I would never hold off showings on my listing. You only have one shot to be a new listing where you get the most looks and showings, when i put it in mls, i want to start showing day 1. 

Why do you feel the need to restrict access to this home prior to the open house?

Praful Thakkar our MLS system has rules you can not list as active and not allow showings. You have to take the home off the market under temporary off status. 

If I had a very motivated buyer I would pick up a phone and call the agent and request a showing. If they are firm about their showing instruction that you have no choice but to wait out until Sunday. 

Sounds to me like the listing agent is trying to get both sides.  I be he/she would show it on a Friday.  I hate this tactic.  Don't put the sign in the yard until it's active and ready to be shown. In my opinion this is unfair to your seller as they may miss the perfect buyer. 

      It should not be in MLS if it is not ready to be shown.   Either remove it from MLS, or let the Buyer in.

I would follow what has been agreed on. No doubt there are plenty of other motivated buyers, too. If you show to one you need to show to all.

Likely,  I have had this conversation with the seller and there is agreement how it will be handled. "Do not show before " dates and offer submission guidelines are not uncommon so informed local agents know this and unferstand.  That said --- stuff can and does happen so it is important to discuss how these scenarios will be addressed. 

Well it depends is the seller ready, is the seller willing am I available and the list goes on and on... must agent tell you to wait until the rest see it... who are you representing it is up to the seller...just sayin...Endre

Why is it no showing until Sunday at the open house?   Open house hardly sells the home, although it may happen.  Open house is mostly for agents trying to get buyer leads.  I guess depending upon the reason, I may or may not let the agent shows the home. Is this home under coming soon status in the mls and will be active on Sunday?  

I would ask my seller if he/she would like me to change the instructions to accommodate the potential buyer. It is their house and their decision.

Why would you wait till Sunday in the first place.?

Praful,

I agree with Michael Jacobs .  I have shown properties under construction and wearing hard hats and work boots.  You may have a deal or you may not. The owners were delighted that I was willing to show the property in the rain.  Check with the sellers and  Just do it!  A

I would never put a listing in MLS and not allow showings. If it's in MLS, should be ready to show.

Get an offer in subject to inspections ASAP

Our mls rules state is the property has an active status it must be available for showing.

It's up to the seller.

Same rules must apply for all or you run the risk of a complaint being filed and reputation tarnished.   They'll always label such buyers as motivated and unavailable on days when the house is.  In this market, everyone is trying to beat everyone else to the offer table.  Establish a cut off for offers and open it up now. 

Here, if a house isn't available for showing w/i 24 hours of listing, it's supposed to be shown as temporarily-off-market here. If it's on MLS, it's supposed to be available for showings.

I'm working for the seller and promoting their best interest.  I would get everyone in possible.  Sometimes the home should not be seen but then it shouldn't be promoted.

If your seller requested that you wait, then you should follow those instructions. the buyer will wait.

It all depends on what the sellers want you to do but don't understand why you or they would hold off showings. I would get as many buyers into see it as possible.

Some agents like to withhold listings to create enthusiasm and frenzy, and it often works. If you can withhold listings until the open house, you're setting up a situation where 50 families will be touring a house in a 4 hour window - they'll see each other and get panicked that they won't get the house and there will be a bidding war and you'll sell the house in 4 hours above list. It works. If that's what the seller wants, then that's what the seller gets.

No matter how motivated the buyer is, 2 more days won't matter. 

"Hi Listing Agent, I have a favor, my cash buyer is in town only Friday, could you set up a fifteen minute showing for us at 10:00 AM?" phone call, see what they say, drive by with client and get a curbside view

would be a MLS violation here to allow showings before showing date listed in MLS.

Praful ~ What is best for the seller client?  I would say have the property shown is in their best interest... with that said, like Ritu has already said that here in the MRIS MLS a property has to be available for showings as soon as it goes Active in the system.

Comply with your MLS rules and represent the interests of your client.

What the seller wants me to do.

Some Seller's may only authorize 3 or 4 day / time slots for showings. When this happens their word rules with no exceptions. Many times it is my preferred method also. 

I always love to show my listings before the first open house... More chances to get offers and generate more frenzy with attendees on Sunday 

There are many reasons for instructions in the MLS that state no showing until ... [fill in the blank].  Among them are final touches getting it ready for show time.  
In the market I am in, there is no need to make exceptions  If the buyer is that motivated they will find a way to get to the open house or see it with their agent another time after the open house.

That is up to the seller and the reason behind the Sunday rule. Besides, motivated Friday, very motivated Sunday.

The buyer should come to the open house early!

Stick to your Strategy - NO Showings until the Open !

If it's OK with the seller and your schedule, I would allow the showing.

As the buyers agent I would at least ask. 

As a sellers agent there is no way I would allow any early access. If our Board got wind I was posting one thing and allowing other things, I would not want to find out what they would do. 

Like the instruction stated Sunday

There are typically reasons for no showings before a specific date (often set by a seller). I suppose you can always call the listing agent and ask for an exception, but be prepared for a no. I've done this a few times and when I get the no, I wait until showings begin. (In fact, I can't remember a time when I received a yes.) I get calls about motivated buyers all the time (aren't they all motivated these days with lack of inventory?)... and then they have no interest in the home when they see it.

Ask your seller. It's their deal and if they are willing, to show one, I'd say open it up. If not, they are responsible for the outcome. 

I would never hold back any showings!  

if my criteria is met...we show until it goes

If a home owner tells me "No showings until Saturday" I will call and explain the situation BUT it's the Sellers call, not mine Praful Thakkar 

We see this a lot, and still have buyer agents calling to get approval to see the home early.