I want to see ANYTHING I write on. PC isn't assured by viewing the home or even writing contract. If the buyer found the house themself and no other agent was involved . . . and you are contracted with the buyer . . . you are probably fine. PC is the squirrel who shook the tree . . . not the one who gathered the nuts. ;)

In Virginia, we have buyer clients sign a buyer broker agreement which clarifies the issue of agency;  also, agents are required upfront to inquire of buyers if they are already working with another agent. 

If the client wants you to see the house before writing on it, sure, show it, but simply showing a house does not necessarily lead to procuring cause.  

Always. I need to see the house before I can effectively negotiate anything relative to the house. The MLS photos are obviously photos that were cherry picked and sometimes edited. The house could have a railroad track 500 feet from the backyard or there could be signs of leaking , flooding etc.  that an exicited home buyer may not pick up. I think it weakens  my negotiating if the other agent knows that I did not even take the time to walk through the house.

This happens, as some of my buyers hit open houses without me on Sundays, etc. and I encourage that; they are in contract with me and it saves me some showings if they reject the house. As a preference, not a requirement, I'll typically get in to see the house myself and just "double check" there's no obvious points to make in the offer or against writing an offer. But, if I can't see the house before the offer, I'm a good negotiator and we have contingencies, so I'm not overly concerned.

Yes, I would schedule a 2nd showing so I can see the home and take into consideration any issues when writing the offer.

I have only had it happen once and yes, I brought them back to see it and write the offer accordingly. Seeing it i was able to address some issues up front in our offer that if i did not see, would not have known

No, if the time is the issue and we have to act fast,  I write the offer. But if I did not see the house,  I do try to get into the house as soon as possible. 

I don't see the need for a second showing unless my buyers wanted to see it.

I see no reason for a 2nd viewing unless it was something the buyers wanted.

No issues here is you already have a written Buyers Agency Agreement.  If not you may have some issues.  It would be nice if you could tour the home with your clients, just to be on the safe side

Michael J. Perry How did they find the house? Do you have an agency buyer broker agreement with the buyer? Agency will dictate whether you can write the offer. Just showing a property does not validate procuring cause.

We would show it to them again - just in case...

I would go view the home before writing an offer as the pictures show the good parts. Not if Agence has been handled.

If you have a written agreement with your clients, a second showing should not be necessary.

I haven't had that happen.

Michael - I certainly would feel obligated to at least see the home, and if possible, go through it with my clients.

As long as I had a buyer-broker agreement, I don't think there would be any issue with procuring cause. Hopefully my clients informed the agent at the open house that they were already working with an agent.

Good morning Michael. We do open houses on homes that we flip all the time. We ask each person, that way we don't run into a problem.

I find out how they know about the property, did they really see it and if so did they sign papers that could be a contract ot represent.

I also schedule an appointment so I can see the possible issues of the property and I can tell how much the client knows about the property

I will often go see the house myself while writing the offer. I don't like to write offers on properties I haven't seen. No procuring cause either.

There may be some issues.  I would need more information before I answer.

I will schedule a second showing and make sure I can properly advise them before the offer is made. I do not think simply attending an open house establishes procuring cause and never had an issue with it

I would write it without the second showing.  No need to show it again once they've decided on it, unless they are debating on price or have a question about it that photos can't answer.  Now if another agent showed it to them, then they'd have to write with that agent (as I could get sued by the other agent).

I've had people walk into an open house and go contact their agent to write the offer.  They were upfront about it with me when I offered to write it for them.  The agent hadn't even been involved at that point and TECHNICALLY shouldn't earn any commission, but I am a bigger person than that!

I would jump in my time machine and go back to the day I started working with these buyers and explain procuring cause, and while I was back there I'd find my old self and kick him in the shin.  

I tell my buyers that if for some reason they stop by an open house, let the agent on duty know that they're already working with us.  I've never had a problem and have probably sold 10-15 where our buyer saw it at an open house first.  

If indeed you are claiming to represent the buyer, your job is to put the buyers best interest above your own...that means you go LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE WRITING AN OFFER ON.

By the way a Buyer Broker agreement does not guarantee that you are the PCause, however the person at the open house is representing the seller and the buyer has the legal right (in any state) to use a buyers agent.

Go look at the house, write it up and don't let the listing agent give you any BS about it.  A buyer coming to an open house is not the property of the agent holding the house open, regardless of the conversation.

Eve

we're listing agents and that's happened to us many times.... we never create a problem....we want an offer and will never argue over money with a buyer's agent.... write it up and let's see if we can put a deal together.... we all make money...

As long as you are SURE they are your client, take a second look and write up the offer.

(1)  It depends.  (2)  Whether the buyer client is a client in this situation depends upon the wording of the signed Buyer Representation Agreement.  Legal advice may need to be obtained from a lawyer licensed in our jurisdiction.

Write the offer. Unless they have signed a buyers representation agreement with someone else. Wait for another showing and maybe have another offer come in first? No.

Michael,
I would want to vet the house and do a second showing because of watching out for my clients best interest. Whether I get a commission or not doesn’t factor into my protocols of getting the best possible house for the client.

Yes, I always see a property before I write an offer.

Procurring Cause is a legal matter.  I would not be concerned about procurring cause in this situation ... the house was "open" ....

I have buyers show up at open house without their agent. If my client is out without me I would like to view the home looking for issues they may miss.  I would write the contract either way.

At the least I would go check it out on my own to see the condition and location. I would also check wioth the buyer about what interaction he had with the other REALTOR®. If this was me who had the listing and I facillitated the showing once it would be no big deal to me to get a contract from another REALTOR®. If I had been working with this buyer on a steady basis I would still work with the other REALTOR® but not without some compensation. Open house is not a procuring cause you would win in my state.

Caution, err on the side of caution. 

Depends on timing and availablity. Just seeing a house does not establish procurring cause

It depends. 

It depends.

It has always been my policy to show them the house again before writing an offer. I would not just write up an offer.