If it says so in the showing instructions, yes.  I can understand in an occupied house (occupant sees it on the dining room table or kitchen counter, they know you were inside), but for vacant houses, it is overkill.

No, in fact many agents think you are trying to step on their toes if you leave a card behind for their client.

It is a courtesy to seller, rule or no rule. 

I do, but it's not a requirement, just a request by listing agents.None of the sellers I've helped so far have cared one way or the other; so I don't really care either.

Our Sellers expect it.  I received an angry call last weekend because an out-of-area agent did not leave a card and the Seller was convinced that no one showed up!

It is more respect to the seller that you leave a card. Sometimes a seller leaves and comes home and no card..not sure if they came home to earlier. Cards are an inexpensive way to show our professional way of showing a home. I've gotten a listing by leaving a card as I was the only one and when the seller didn't sell because they were priced too high called me to list..love going in with a better price when they are more realistic.

I wish people would. Until agents update their Sentricard or use the Sentricard app there is no way to tell when the lockbox was accessed. 

It is protocol ... but we are not fined if we do not leave a business card. This brings up the sharing of e-key issue.  It happens. If the agent does not leave a card then we don't know who accessed the property. 

I always leave a card. 

I always do but unbelievably I am the only one that does. It is getting ridiculous & seems to be a big deal to most agents. It's like they can't afford cards!

Just today my seller called me to ask for sure if they had a showing & I had to look up the Sentrilock to do it. Why?

It is customary in my area.  However, there is no law in my jurisdiction on this matter.

We don't get fined, but the real reason for leaving a card is to let a seller know we've been and gone as they don't have access to reading the supra boxes. It's a normal practise to leave a card in an occupied house and not in a vacant home in our area.

It is a good practice to leave a business card.

Yes.  I believe it is common courtesy in addition to being a part of our mls by-laws.  No fines that I am aware.   

I like the seller to know I was there.

I like other agents to see I was there and active in the market.

2,500 cards for $120.00 I can afford a few cards left at listings.

Think abundance, not waste. I enjoy the tradition of it too.

Here's the best part...

But I've also got a listing or two from doing it when the other agents got fired!

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, Broker, Tacoma Washington - not sure why your board should fine the agents for not leaving the business card.

Overkill, indeed.

We are encouraged to do so so that the owners know that someone was there.

It is courtesy to do that however I have heard agents say they feel like it is solicitation of their listing. Our MLS does not require it.

I've never seen it written here in Southern California that we have to leave a card.  I usually will if the home is occupied but not if it is vacant.  The agent can see that I've been there through the supra lock box.

In our area leaving a business card behind isn't done.

I still do it out of courtesy!

We only sometimes leave a business card, because we use the Supra so they already have an immediate record of who we are, and the time of our visit.  Now we do always use the Sign-In Sheet, so they have that record and our Supra Record, so I don't see a need to leave a business card as a third record.  To my knowledge we cannot get fined for not leaving a business card Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, Broker, Tacoma Washington. 

It's good practice in my area, and I do it. Although I don't leave a card in a vacant bank owned listing. There doesn't seem to be a reason to do this. 

I leave a card as a courtesy to the listing agent even in vacant listings.

I do as a habit but I don't believe we are required to because of the Sentrilock boxes. It's a courtesy to the seller. I like what Dorie Dillard says.  

Wow, and you get fined for advertising inappropriately? Do they provide guidelines?

Tracking activity with Showing Desk and or Supra is enough for me, however, if a listing agent requests it I'm all in.

Many still do it out of habit believing it is still a professional courtesy. I usually write time I arrived and left on the back of card. Cards are cheap so i don't worry about it being too much of a watse of money.

no fines if we don't.... most agents do leave a card....

Sounds unusual. I never heard of a rule like that or if it could be enforceable.

IMO we have the same rule which was written before the digital supra key and the rules is now outdated and needs to be updated

So for me, it's duplicate work but I will do it if I see other cards there

I dont see a movment to leave cards like it was once upon a time

Sounds like you have an MLS just like the government!

I do but not always, especially in a rental condo.

I like seeing them in my listings, and I am sure that if any of my renters are considering being homeowners then it may be a good thing for the agent when one spots this card on the kitchen counter.

Sentrilock leaves a digital  business card for us.

The biggest complaint I get from sellers is that they have no idea if a showing has occurred if a card is not left.  Not as a big a deal in a vacant listing, but definitely a must in an occupied home.

Supra does not record each transaction. Often it is a borrowed supra.

Paul,

I don't see a problem with that. A

I actually don't like when agents leave their card in my listings. My listing is not a platform for other agents to market themselves. 

I do if I've made an appt. with the owner directly to view.  They know we were there.  Otherwise, no.  The listing agent can pull the info from the lockbox.

Paul S. Henderson,

I was not aware that any MLS by -laws would say such. As a courtesy, we leave our business cards to show that the home was shown.

It does seem unnecessary with Supra key and all. However, it is basically another opportunity to network if the listing agent calls you back upon seeing your business card. It is also a gauge for the sellers to see who toured their home.

I put in my instructions not to. Some agents go further and leave marketing materials which is a big no no

I think this practice is a huge waste and have considered getting some cheap edition of my card made to use specifically for this purpose.  Meanwhile, if a home is occupied I do leave my card as I know that sellers like to see it.  I don't for vacant homes and always consider my feedback proof positive that I did show the property.

We still do this in Central Oregon. Although Supra shows the Broker who showed the home, the cards in the home give the seller tangible proof that the property is being shown.

We are not required, but I leave one if asked  to do so

that is really interesting ... We don't have rules like that. 

I leave a card when I know it's still occupied. Vacant homes and especially foreclosures, I usually do not.  In our area, most agents use electronic lock boxes that will provide a record of who openend the lockbox. 

I always still do.

For the selelrs piece of mind. Since we don't know exactly when the buyers show and when they leave, it has been good for my sellers to see that card there; that they have come and gone and who was actually the agent showing up. PS. That's interesting about "too much advertising" on one's card. I would think that the best "advertising" an agent can do is show the house several times, leave several cards. And, then, of course sell it. That should impress the seller for next time around.

No, we are not required to leave a Business card. Supra registers everyone. I leave my card mostly for visitors and I right ''thank you'' on the back if it is owner occupied. 

It is still the common practice here, however I am not aware of any regs requiring it.  The Supra really should be enough.  I'm more likely to do it on an occupied listing rather than a vacant one.  Sold a vacant house (rep'd the buyer only) and actually took my card back from the pile at the final inspection.

It's common practice in our market place but not everyone does it. We don't typically use the electronic lockboxes, but that could change.

IMO I think this rule needs to be changed as it's now archaic due to the new digital tools.

If a seller wants, the agent can produce a weekly report and email it to them with/as a status report

only if requested

My Supra shows that I went to the home. Then, this information is accessible to the listing agent.

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, Broker, Tacoma Washington I don't know if we are supposed to leave one, but I do as a courtesy.

I think you will find that a business card is your personal advertisement and as long as it fits within State guidelines for advertising you are fine. For your Board to warn of fines for too much advertising on cards is an overstep in my opinion and should be tested in Court. Regarding fining if cards are not left at listings, that too is a step too far, but certainly proper etiquette.

We don't have to but it is common courtesy in an occupied home so the seller knows you were there.

If the listing agent request we leave a card then I do.

It is customary here but not required and no MLS rules or fimes.  For occupied homes, the Seller knows as soon as they return the home was actually shown.

Leagalism

We don't have that obligation and the sellers don't expect it. Many agents don't do sign-in sheets anymore as the key box captures all who open it. Personally, I like to leave my card for the sellers, often with a little note on the back with a "thank you" and "nice home", or something pleasant.

Yes.

Good morning Paul.  Too much government involvement..