Handling Calls and Showings Safely

Table of Content

Once your FSBO goes live, your phone and door will get busy. In this chapter, you’ll learn how to screen calls, set ground rules, and run safe showings so you protect your time, your privacy, and your family.

Intro

Once your home hits the internet, the calls, texts, and messages start coming.

Some people will be serious buyers.

Some will be curious neighbors.

Some will be investors or agents looking for business.

This chapter gives you a simple system to:

  • Protect your time
  • Protect your privacy
  • Keep you and your family safe during showings

No scare tactics — just clear, common-sense steps.

Who’s Actually Calling You?

When you list FSBO, you’ll hear from different types of people:

  • Serious buyers – They’re looking for a home like yours and have real questions.
  • Curious neighbors – They want to know your price and what you’re doing.
  • Investors/wholesalers – Looking for a deal or to lock up your home cheap.
  • Real estate agents – Some truly have buyer clients, others just want your listing.

Your job is to identify who’s who in the first couple of minutes so you’re not wasting time or putting yourself in weird situations.

Simple System for Screening Calls and Messages

You don’t need a fancy script. Just a few rules.

Step 1: Use a separate phone line or app (if possible)

  • Consider a free or low-cost option like a call app (for example, Google Voice).
  • This keeps your personal number private and lets you turn “FSBO mode” off at night.

Step 2: Ask the same basic questions every time

When someone calls or texts about the house, you can ask:

  • “Have you already spoken to a lender about what you qualify for?”
  • “Are you working with a real estate agent?”
  • “When are you hoping to move?”

If they get annoyed by simple questions, that’s a red flag.

Step 3: Decide if they’re worth a showing

You don’t have to show the home to everyone who calls.

Set a simple rule for yourself, for example:

  • Only show the home to people who

    • Can tell you roughly what price range they’re in, and
    • Are willing to share a name and contact info

Ground Rules for Safe Showings

Your home is still your home. You set the rules.

Basic safety steps:

  • Never feel bad about saying “That time doesn’t work.
    Avoid showings late at night or when you’ll be home alone.
  • Have a second person there.
    A friend, family member, or neighbor in the house or nearby.
  • Control access.
    You open doors. You walk ahead or beside visitors, not behind them.
  • Put away valuables and personal info.
    Wallets, jewelry, checkbooks, prescription bottles, and documents with your SSN or account numbers.

Simple rule:

If something about a person or time feels off, you can say,

What to Say When Someone Wants to “Drop In”

You may get people who say, “I’m in the area, can I just swing by now?”

You do not have to say yes.

You can reply with something like:

  • If they push hard or get upset, that’s another red flag.
  • A serious buyer will understand that you’re still living in the home.

Red Flags to Watch For

Here are a few signs to slow down or say no:

  • They refuse to give a full name or contact info
  • They get angry when you ask simple questions
  • They want to come very late at night
  • They make strange, personal comments that have nothing to do with the house
  • They talk about “creative deals” but won’t explain clearly

You are allowed to say:

Using a Loan Officer to Pre-Check Buyers

One of your strongest safety tools is financial, not physical.

You can:

  • Ask if they’re already pre-approved
  • Ask if they’d be open to a quick call with your loan officer

A good loan officer can:

  • Confirm if the pre-approval they have looks real
  • Help you understand if their price range matches your home
  • Spot obvious issues early (credit, income, down payment)

You don’t share the buyer’s personal information with everyone.

You just connect them with a professional who can confirm they’re serious.

Keep a Simple Showing Log

Keep a Simple Showing Log

This doesn’t have to be fancy. One sheet of paper or a simple note in your phone.

For each showing, write down:

  • Name
  • Phone number or email
  • Date and time of showing

Any quick notes (had an agent, loved the kitchen, not a fit, etc.)

Why this helps:

  • You remember who is who
  • Easier to follow up with serious buyers
  • You have a record of who has been inside your home

Later, this can also become a simple downloadable template on your site.
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