Showing Your Home

When you list your home for sale, your agent will go over a short list of ways that you, the owner, can help market your home. Most of these have to do with the appearance of the home and yard to make the property as nice looking as possible to any prospective buyer.

One of the most important on the list is not pertaining to the physical property, but to you. When agents show the property, make yourself scarce – get out of the way and let them do their job. In actuality, the owner is not any help to the agent. Here are a few reasons why:

1. You make the buyer uncomfortable. If you can recall how you felt when you were shopping for the home before you bought it, think about it. If the owner was there, you may have felt somewhat intimidated or reluctant to spend much time in the home. When it is only the agent and the buyers, the buyers are relaxed and will give your home their full attention and consideration. If the buyer has a minor objection to the home, they often will not voice it in front of the seller and may end up purchasing another home.
2. The buyer makes you uncomfortable. Sellers are always anxious. They are unsure of the price and the length of time it has take or will take to sell. Buyers are always critical even if they instantly like the home. There is no need to hear their criticisms of the color scheme or their redecorating plans. An experienced agent can detect some of these comments as “closing” signs, meaning they have decided on this home.
3. Sellers might say the wrong thing. Have you had a little disagreement with a neighbor? You might find yourself telling the buyer. Is the swimming pool too expensive to maintain in your opinion? This buyer might have a swimming pool like yours at the top of his “want” list. Schools close by? Maybe they have no children. Anything you say might be a “deal killer”. Discussing your motivation for selling can give them a reason to make a low offer.
4. Your agent will sell your home quicker. Agents want to show the home when you’re not there. This is the same whether it is a weekend open house or a private showing. The one-on-one frank conversations that agents can have with prospective buyers just cannot happen in front of the seller. When an agent calls ahead for an appointment to show the home at a certain time, it is your signal to get out. This is the main reason for the call.