There was a time in real estate when feedback after a showing was simply understood. It wasn’t optional, it wasn’t debated, and it certainly wasn’t ignored. If you showed a property, you let the listing agent know what your buyer thought. It was a basic professional courtesy, part of the rhythm of doing business in a cooperative industry.
Today, however, that courtesy seems to be disappearing.
Across Canada, listing agents are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain feedback after showings. Automated requests go unanswered. Personal messages are ignored. Sellers wait for insights that never come. What was once a routine part of the process has become, for many, an exercise in persistence and frustration.
So what changed?
Part of the answer lies in the rapid evolution of the industry over the past several years. The pandemic-era market created an environment where homes were selling almost instantly. In multiple-offer situations, buyers often made decisions quickly, sometimes without even stepping inside the property. In that kind of market, feedback felt almost irrelevant. Listings moved so quickly that there was little time, or perceived need, for thoughtful follow-up.
But markets evolve, and today’s environment is very different.
Inventory levels are shifting, buyers are taking more time to evaluate properties, and sellers are once again relying on market insights to guide important decisions. In a more balanced or challenging market, feedback becomes incredibly valuable. It provides the information needed to adjust pricing, refine marketing strategies, or address concerns buyers may have about the property itself.
Without that information, sellers are left guessing.
Another factor is the influx of newer agents who entered the business during the recent boom. Many of them have never experienced a slower, more strategic market cycle. While they may be skilled at using technology and managing digital tools, the deeper traditions of professional etiquette, like timely communication with colleagues, may not have been emphasized in their early experiences.
Technology itself has also played a role.
Showing platforms have streamlined the booking process, making it easier than ever to schedule appointments. But convenience can sometimes come at the cost of connection. Years ago, agents often spoke directly when arranging showings or discussing listings. Those conversations naturally led to follow-ups and feedback. Today, automated systems handle most of the interaction, and the personal element can get lost.
There is also, for some agents, a hesitation to provide honest feedback. They worry that their comments might offend the listing agent or the seller. In reality, most professionals understand that feedback is not criticism, it is information. Constructive insights help listing agents do their job better and allow sellers to make informed decisions.
At its core, feedback is not about the agents at all. It is about the client.
When a homeowner decides to list their property, they are placing a significant amount of trust in their agent and, by extension, in the broader professional community. Sellers prepare their homes, accommodate showing schedules, leave their space for strangers to walk through, and wait anxiously to hear what buyers think.
They deserve to know.
Even a brief comment can provide meaningful insight, the price feels high compared to similar homes, the layout didn’t work for the buyer, the backyard was smaller than expected, or the property showed beautifully but simply wasn’t the right fit. Each piece of feedback helps build a clearer picture of how the market is responding.
In many cases, those insights are exactly what helps a home sell.
Professionalism in real estate has always been built on cooperation. While agents represent their own clients, the industry functions because colleagues work together respectfully and responsibly. Courtesy, communication, and follow-through are part of that shared responsibility.
Providing feedback after a showing takes very little time, often less than a minute. Yet that small action demonstrates something significant: respect for fellow professionals and for the clients we collectively serve.
As the market continues to shift and adapt, perhaps it is time to revisit some of the fundamentals that have long defined the profession. Technology may change the tools we use, but it should not replace the professional standards that support a healthy and collaborative industry.
The next time you show a property, take a moment before moving on to the next appointment.
Send the feedback.
It may seem like a small gesture, but to the seller waiting for answers, and to the agent working hard to represent them, it can make all the difference.
BUZZ
