Property comments can be constructive

Re: 'Feedback, tact and holding back' (March 19)

Dear Editor:

I am a huge proponent of giving feedback to the listing agent after a showing. It's simply the correct thing to do.

I do not, however, fill in the preselected questions but instead go directly to the comment section. Discussions about value are never part of my feedback, whether the buyer has interest in the home or not. Feedback should be about only how the house presents and if there are any safety or utility concerns.

For example, I showed a house that had the smell of natural gas and reported it to the listing agent. I also opened a few windows to vent the house and reported the same.

Because the showing agent is usually the last person to view the property, you owe a duty to that seller to secure the property properly and report anything that could cause harm.

If you see trip hazards or other dangerous conditions, you need to report this in your feedback. If the house presents well and has been properly prepared for market, a simple compliment to the seller and listing agent on a job well done is sufficient.

Really, you just need to treat others and their property with the respect that you would want. Agents who don't give feedback for fear of jeopardizing their clients' position simply don't understand what feedback is.

Some of the feedback forms have inappropriate questions on them, so you just skip those questions. The Golden Rule applies here.

David Yunker
Realtor REMAX Properties East
Louisville, Ky.

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