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A Potential Buyer Wants To See Your House - Should You Stay Or Should You Go?

By Jenny Kotulak

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage

February 13, 2010 10:10 AM

You got the call, someone wants to see your house. You run around and do a last minute tidy up.

Kitchen and bathrooms are sparkling
Window coverings are open to let the light in
Lights are turned on in the basement
Toys and newspapers are neatly tucked away
Pillows are plumped and the guest towels are placed in the bathrooms
You've spritzed a delicious smelling room spray for a welcoming first impression
The fresh flowers on the table give your home some "love"

And you're good to go. Yes GO. Vamoosh, skedaddle, exit stage left. And take the kids and pets.

No offence, but the buyers are coming to see your house, not you. And you don't really want to see them anyway. You will be disappointed if they stay only five minutes, after all the time it took you to prepare for the showing. And you will be disappointed if they stay 30 minutes, positive you will be getting an offer from them, only to find out they had no interest in your house.

Buyers do not feel comfortable exploring a home fully when the owner is home. They feel embarrassed to open closets, turn on faucets, flush toilets, etc. Many potential buyers like to be able to "place" their furniture to see if the home's layout works for them.

Buyer's Agents do not feel comfortable when some homeowners lead the tour. It is true that the homeowner knows the home better than anyone and but if there is interest in the house and the buyer has questions, their REALTOR® will contact the seller's REALTOR® for the answers.

It's a fact that potential buyers will want to see your home at inconvenient times like dinner hour or first thing in the morning. Your normal routine will cease to exist for the time period that your home is on the market.

My job as a REALTOR® is to help you through this marketing process. There are ways to reduce the stress of selling a home. A strategic plan is required in order to sell your house for the most amount of money in the least amount of time.

That is your goal, right?

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Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner

Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA

Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Ideally....but I never mind showing a home with someone there....unless they follow us around and try and "sell" the house, that makes it impossible to talk freely.

Feb 13, 2010 10:13 AM

Betty Knowles

Southwest Missouri Realty - Springfield, MO

Ready to sell? Call Betty!

Jenny, you are absolutely correct. Three is a crowd when showing a home. Buyers are too worried about the seller to get a good look at the home.

Feb 13, 2010 10:16 AM

Eileen Liles

970-216-0530 http://WeSellDeltaCounty.com - Cedaredge, CO

Macht-Liles Real Estate Group - Cedaredge, CO

I vote GO, GO, GO! You are so right - buyers usually feel a little uncomfortable and as an agent, it makes me uncomfortable, too.

Feb 13, 2010 10:16 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Sellers should never be there during a showing. I know they think they mean well by "aiding" in the showing of their home. But, alas, they couldn't be more wrong!

Feb 13, 2010 10:23 AM

Haris Dedic

Villager Realty 847-878-2588 - Glenview, IL

Glenview Real Estate - Chicago North Shore

I changed my mind few times on this topic. No to long ago I even wrote a bit disagreeable post on this topic.

We do feel a lot more comfortable, but if the client wants to be there will make it work.

Feb 13, 2010 10:55 AM

Debi Boucher

Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO

"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Absolutely the best possible advice, Jenny! Sellers often talk too much, and say more than they should.

Debi

Feb 13, 2010 11:43 AM

Kathy Clulow

Uxbridge, ON

Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Jenny - Oh if Only .... in a perfect world all homes on the market would be kept in show home condition with the owners away for the duration. .... Unfortunately we sell homes in this world and sometimes no matter how hard we try some vendors just like to stay in the house while it is being shown.

Feb 13, 2010 02:26 PM

Steve Shatsky

Dallas, TX

Hi Jenny... GETTING OUT during showings is one of the simplest and best things a seller can do, yet this seems to be some of the most difficult advice for them to follow. Go figure!

Feb 13, 2010 03:11 PM

Kris Wales

Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI

Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI

Vamoosh, skedaddle, exit stage left.

Absolutely! Unless there is a compelling reason that the seller cannot leave, then go! Buyers are much more comfy staying longer and peeking in to closets, etc with the seller NOT there.

Feb 13, 2010 10:34 PM

Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers

RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON

Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Happy Valentines Day Jenny.

Great advice and well said Jenny! Numero uno rule in selling, so we are outta here

Feb 14, 2010 01:26 AM

Ty Lacroix

Envelope Real Estate Brokerage Inc - London, ON

Jenny:

One of the reasons of pricing the home correctly, and in show condition is that the seller will sell quickly and not be inconvenienced by showings.

Feb 14, 2010 07:59 AM

Mary Douglas

United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO

REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Jenny, You are so right. It's uncomfortable for the buyers. Most do not want to offend the seller by saying anything they don't like about the house. That usually ends any conversation about what they could do to change it to suit their taste, and usually ends the showing very soon.

Feb 14, 2010 08:41 AM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Jenny it is best for all concern if the seller leaves the house when their is a showing appointment. If I am the seller's agent I am always worrying that the seller will say more than necessary thus giving the potential buyer a better negotiating hand.

Feb 14, 2010 11:38 AM

Jenny Kotulak

RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON

Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Hi Karen - I find sometimes seniors or moms with tots prefer to stay home, but I'm always happy when they say they will go out into the backyard for the showing.

Hi Betty and John, the buyer also feels that they have to thank the sellers and tell them how nice their house is. Then the seller gets excited and thinks they have an offer coming.

Hi Eileen - Sometimes when the seller stays home they critique the agent showing the house. I've had sellers say an agent didn't point out anything about the house and just let the people do their own thing. I find when showing homes sometimes the Mr. heads one way and the Mrs. another.

Hi Craig, glad you agree. I always knew you were a yes man lol.

Hi Haris - you change your mind - like a woman??? I will have to go and find that post you are referring to.

Feb 14, 2010 12:16 PM

Jenny Kotulak

RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON

Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Hi Debi - That's another good point. Sometimes the buyer will ask the seller questions like why are they selling. And often the seller is very forthcoming with their answers give away the motivation for selling.

Hi Kathy you are right of course. Sometimes it just isn't possible for the seller to go out. If my buyers like the house and want to go back for a second look I always call the seller's agent and ask if they could please leave for the second showing so the buyer can have a better look around. Usually the seller's agent is very co-operative with this request.

Hi Steve - I have had sellers who have admitted they just get in the car and park around the corner to see how long the buyers stayed and how many people were there looking.

Hi Kris - It's amazing how quickly people get a feeling about a house when they enter. I fiind they just clam right up if the owners are home.

Feb 14, 2010 12:23 PM

Jenny Kotulak

RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON

Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Thanks for the flowers Al and Peggy. Happy Velentine's Day to you also. I hope you have a great one.

Hi Ty - You said it. The faster that lockbox comes off the door the less stressed the sellers are. No one likes to have to clean every day. Or in my case, every week lol.

Hi Mary - I find that if the sellers are home, the buyers start whispering and it's a very quiet showing.

Hi Jennifer - I agree, the seller giving the motivation to sell, even unintentionally gives the buyer ammunition to use when offering.

Feb 14, 2010 12:29 PM

Fred Carver Real Estate Consulant

Retired BC Realtor - Victoria, BC

Accredited Real Estate Consultant

Hi Jenny..Great Post, it's true, Buyers are coming to see your house and if they like it and your price, they might just Buy it :O))

Happy Valentines from Fred

HAPPY VALENTINES

Feb 14, 2010 01:01 PM

Rita Fong

RE/MAX REAL ESTATE TODAY, Executive Broker 901-488-9590 - Marion, AR

Realtor - Marion Arkansas Homes for Sale

Hi, Jenny, buyers do tend to stay shorter if the homeowners are there during showing. But some people are just stubborn and "strange" about things.

Feb 15, 2010 06:24 AM

Jenny Kotulak

RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON

Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Hi Fred - you could write a post about that cartoon lol. How true is that. I'm afraid people are breaking up this way now also. Happened to my daughter.

Hi Rita - I know some sellers ask their own agent to be present when another agent shows the property. Often that is for security reasons though if their is expensive art work or an intricate alarm system that they are afraid will be tripped.

Feb 15, 2010 02:31 PM