Are You An Eager Seller

Eager lady raising hands in excitement Often times, as a seller you might think you are being helpful by pointing out features of your home during a home showing. On the contrary, house shoppers are likely to feel uncomfortable or annoyed if the seller is present. Staying in the home during a buyer’s showing appointment, can work against you. So all you really need to know as the seller is “GET OUT AND STAY OUT” till the appointment is over.

Just kidding. Let’s take a look at ALL the etiquette tips you need to know, as the seller, when your home is being shown.

Seller Good Intentions

As a home seller, you may have good intentions and are excited to show off the features you have enjoyed in your home. However, you likely DO NOT understand what is important to the buyers. While you may be excitedly pointing out a whirlpool tub, the buyer may find that to be a detriment, for instance. As the seller, your presence during the showing can make the buyers feel awkward and uncomfortable. Do you know who has the most responsibility in selling your home? THAT’S RIGHT, your listing agent. Your listing agent will review with you the tips for property exam etiquette and explain what potential buyers expect when they schedule and arrive for their viewing.

In short, buyers expect the seller to be away during their appointment. That means the seller should not be home for any home showing event for any reason.

Seller Sharing

If you, as the seller are eager to share information about your home, you should offer it up to your listing agent, whose job is to know about the home’s special features, upgrades, and defects. SO GET IT OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM and overshare those things with your listing agent. Your listing agent is the expert and will professionally convey the message you want to any potential buyers.

Not only does a seller being presence make a buyer uncomfortable, but buyer’s agents also request privacy with their clients. During a first showing, buyers agents help clients visualize themselves living in the home, and that part of the job can be hampered if the seller is in the other room. Buyers and their agents may feel their conversations are being eavesdropped on so that they cannot and will not speak freely.

Seller Beware

caution sign in faded red Another downfall of the seller being there, is the visitors may be in a hurry to leave, or they may feel that they must be overly polite. They feel they have to act as if they love the home, rather than asking their agent about their real questions or concerns.

An overzealous seller can easily derail their home sale by remaining in the house during an appointment. It really is a negative experience that can cause buyers to form judgments about the seller.

On the other hand, a huge implication that needs to be considered is if the buyers do decide to submit an offer and it is not accepted, it could put you as the seller in a position for accusations of discrimination. NOT GOOD, so you see what I mean by GET OUT AND STAY OUT????

Seller Preparations

Leaving the house 10 OR 15 minutes before a showing IS the best advice for the home seller. It’s best if you don’t cross paths with the buyers and their agents. There are also other suggestions as the seller that will be worth doing as you prepare your home for sale. Check out our other blogs if you are interested in those.

A home showing is your chance to showcase your property to potential buyers, and you should take time to prepare. Make sure the house is clean and clutter-free, set the A/C at a comfortable temperature, turn on all the lights, and try to create a pleasant mood in the house. And then of course, you know what I’m going to say now, THAT’S RIGHT – GET OUT AND STAY OUT.

The goal of showing appointments is to allow potential buyers the opportunity to see and experience as much of the house as they can. Allow your listing agent and the buyer’s agent to do the selling and before you know it you’ll have an offer in hand.

For more information on how to prepare for all those multiple offers, check out our other blogs. If you are ready to become a seller, contact us, The Old Mill Group and we can guide you along the way.