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Sometimes It's OK For The Seller To Be Home For The Showing!

Yesterday, I showed a lovely granny house in Chevy Chase, a close-in DC suburb. It's a large, stately home with pillars that reminded me of a lovely antebellum Gone With The Wind sort of place. The 1920's vintage home was well taken care of and sort of reeked of years of love, happy family holidays, wedding receptions, and decades of memories. It was almost like you could tell this house had taken wonderful care of the people it sheltered.

And granny was there!

Normally, it's best for the sellers to be far away when their homes are shown. But sometimes you have to make exceptions if there is a new baby or little old lady in the house. And this time, the listing agent made sure it was OK.

This seller was utterly charming. After introductions, she and her agent moved to the well-tended rose garden while we went through the house.

She was warm, welcoming and then scarce.

I don't know if this will be the house that my buyers actually buy. It's wonderful in so many ways, but near a very busy street. And while it's been lovingly maintained, it does need some renovations. But I'm sort of rooting for it.

And hoping that maybe granny will convey!

Posted by Patricia Kennedy on 06/20/2009 09:31 PM

Comments (10)

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Originally posted at: Pat Kennedy - Your Washington, DC Real Estate Connection: Sometimes It's OK For The Seller To Be Home For The Showing!

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10 Comments on Sometimes It's OK For The Seller To Be Home For The Showing!

JUN

At times, there is no one that can sell a house better than the sellers themselves. They can impart the history and details that can make it so much more than just another property.

Pat..I do love the home that have charm and that lived in ,loved, good vibe feeling,Good luck..Thanks

HelpfulHannah your friend in Philadelphia

Patricia,

This was a pleasure to read, with humor, wit, and love. You are not describing it, it you are making us feel it.

Good luck to you... and granny

I agree, sometimes it's helpful to have the seller there, for questions, stories, info. When it works, it works. When it's bad.....ugh! Never forget the seller who wouldn't even put the footrest on the Lazy boy down while we looked. He continued to watch his ball game and smoke as if we weren't even in his house! I later told my buyers it looked like he might come WITH the house.....they passed. :-)

Pat - there are times when the buyers are thankful the sellers are there. While it may not be in the seller's best interest, buyers can sometimes learn some interesting things, AND build a relationship that can help if they put in an offer. It can also work against the buyers AND the sellers.

Jeff

JUN

What a pleasure to hear this story. And now, here I am rooting for this one to be the one, too. By the way, Pat, where will granny go when her house sells? Does she have plans in place already?

Patricia - Sounds like the listing agent had great client control. I always think I do, but sometimes ....LOL. One seller had an injured back and I let her stay home during an open house. She promised me over and over that she wouldn't say a word but when people showed up she treated them like her guests and I couldn't get a word in edgewise, and neither could the guests. No prospects out of that open, and I haven't done that again.

I like what you said : Warm, welcoming then scarce. Getting out of the way is key!

JUN

Hi Pat-I had that situation with my Mom who is 83. We stayed out of there way and they were fine. You have to be flexible depending on the situation. <smile>

Pat - Wow, how about Granny conveying! That would be great if she's a wonderful cook! I totally agree that we should make exceptions and I find that the elderly havealways been gracious.

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