Online scheduling has made it easier than ever to arrange property tours, but listing brokers may not realize that some ShowingTime settings can also make their listings’ availability accessible through consumer-facing online scheduling experiences.

Recent member feedback has raised concerns about showing appointments that are confirmed and then canceled shortly before the scheduled time. These cancellations can create more than an inconvenience. Sellers may have cleaned and staged their home, removed pets, changed their schedules, or coordinated with tenants to accommodate the appointment.

One source of these requests may be the integration between ShowingTime and Zillow’s online touring tools.

How Zillow and ShowingTime Can Work Together

Zillow offers Real-Time Touring, which integrates with ShowingTime. For eligible listings, consumers can select from available tour times provided through ShowingTime. Zillow then connects the consumer with a participating real estate professional who can facilitate the showing. According to Zillow, an appointment may be automatically booked in ShowingTime on the broker’s behalf after the connection is accepted.

This means a showing request appearing in ShowingTime may have originated with a consumer selecting a tour time online rather than with a broker independently identifying the property and initiating the appointment.

Zillow also states that its Real-Time Touring process can include buyers who do not already have a signed agency agreement.

That distinction can be important for listing brokers and their sellers when establishing showing procedures.

A ShowingTime Setting You May Want to Review

ShowingTime has advised that listing brokers who do not want their real-time showing availability shared with broker websites can review their Appointment Restrictions settings.

In ShowingTime, look for:

“Allow real-time availability for broker websites”

If you do not want your listing’s available appointment times provided through this functionality, select:

NO

ShowingTime introduced real-time availability as a way for broker and agent websites to display available home-tour times and make scheduling faster.

Before changing settings, brokers should consider their sellers’ showing preferences and their brokerage’s policies and procedures.

The Buyer Agreement Still Comes Into Play

Online tour requests do not eliminate the real estate professional’s responsibilities regarding written buyer agreements.

Under the NAR settlement practice changes, MLS Participants working with a buyer must enter into a written agreement with the buyer before touring a home. Zillow itself acknowledges this requirement and offers an optional Touring Agreement for participating brokers using its platform.

In other words, a consumer clicking “Request a Tour” does not by itself replace the professional steps that must occur before a broker conducts the showing.

Protecting Your Seller’s Time

Technology can make scheduling faster, but listing brokers should understand how their ShowingTime settings affect where and how showing availability is distributed.

If you have experienced unexpected or last-minute cancellations, consider reviewing the Appointment Restrictions for your listings and discussing showing expectations with your seller. Listing brokers may also want to review incoming appointments closely and communicate with the showing broker when clarification is needed.

A few minutes reviewing your ShowingTime settings could help reduce unnecessary disruptions for sellers while giving you greater control over how appointments are coordinated.