Paul,

We have had the long tours and we have always chosen a nice place to lunch and we always pick up the check.  Lunch is a good time to connect with your clients and create bonds.  

One of our best clients (a big recording studio) would not sign an exclusive due to legal mumbo jumbo, even though our agreement was a mere paragraph.  We showed him everything on the market, took him to lunch at a place he suggested.  As we bought more companies, we found them the office space, and he never called anyone else.  

It is just how we do business now, and did business then.  It is our style. A

If it is going to be that long I coordinate the showings and ask the client what they would be interested in.  I invite them and offer to pay or I give them the option to go somewhere alone to discuss the showing we already seen.  I leave the option open.  Most clients now do not want to ride with the agent but wants to follow them to each property...

I usually sit down at a decent, but modestly priced restaurant and pick up the check. The time we sit down together is very useful for rapport building, reviewing properties, and so on.

When asking customers about their schedule, many times they prefer to start after lunch to avoid using the showing time to eat a meal.  If eating falls within the showing time frame, I am happy to treat them at a restaurant, and it gives a nice opportunity to know them better and talk about what they have seen so far.

If they have a lot of kids, it might be McDonalds! 

If it's a long home tour with lots of houses to see, I plan accordingly. I will pack a picnic lunch for everyone. Not one prepared in my kitchen but one purchased from a local caterer prepackaged and ready to serve.

We'll stop at one of the area attractions and give them not only an opportunity for nourishment but a tutorial on the responsibility of living where you must share space with the flora, fauna and sea life that makes Florida a celebration. It is highly likely they will see a manatee or dolphin, an osprey or eagle, an armadillo or Rosetta, a terrapin or curlew.

And I, not the waitstaff sets and executes the schedule.

If they have rejected my offer to share the ride, they are left to their own best solutions, and I take my lunch home for dinner.

Depends, I've done some of each.  

Typically we limit tours to 3-4 hours - but - for the rare time they run longer we opt for a sit down restaturant and offer to pay for the group - sometimes the Buyers insist on paying!

If we stop to eat, I ask the clients if they would like to and where.  If not, we power on (I keep power bars and etc in the truck).   I don't eat fast food but can usually find something where they want to stop, I am a BIG FAN of Subway as you can eat semi "healthy".  I never allow the client to pay, or even allow it to be a question, "my treat".  I put it on the business PLLC credit card and it is a tax expense.  Everyone wins. 

Paul... I think it depends on the situation and time available. I've found that when I'm out with more than one or two people (an entire family) and we sto9p to eat, they always pay for my meal as a way of thanking me.

I will consult with my clients to see if they are feeling the hunger and make a decision then whether or not to stop.  If we stop I will buy.  I would do sit down in a mid price, no fast food unless they have kids and prefer somewhere with a playground to work off the energy.

Unfortuntely, I don't take the time to eat when I am with a client. I may get something quick between clients though at a drive-thru.

Sit down and I always pay.

Panera or something similar and I pick up the check.

I pay for the group.  Sit down of course.  Just an average restaurant

I agree 110% with Ron and Alexandra Seigel I don't eat in my car or at any fast food joints. It is a write off and a time to chill out and connect with the client.

Depending on the client and price point.  I will pick up the check