Dos & Don'ts of Selling Your Home

Seller's Etiquette: Dos & Don'ts of Selling Your Home

In today's market buyers have more of a selection than ever!  This means homeowners that want to sell need to be ever vigilant of their home and the actions they take to prepare for their house to be shown. Not preparing properly can be viewed not only as rude but can actually keep people from viewing or buying your house and you chances of selling your home dwindle. So what is the social etiquette needed for today's seller you ask…here are some Do's and Don'ts to follow to sell your property.

 

DOs

·         Be accessible – setting unrealistic times to show can make the buyer eliminate your house from their list…remember they have plenty to look at, don't put your house at the bottom of the list by not having it available to be seen. 

·         Keep electricity on - Buyers want to be able to "see" the house when they get there, so they will need the light. On a cloudy day sunlight might not be enough and leave your house looking dark and dreary. 

·         Remember light sells – so open the blinds and let the light in when you know someone will be stopping by. The brighter the house the better!! 

·         Clean your house – Keeping your house clean is IMPORTANT!! No further explanation is needed. 

·         Be conscious of smells – don't cook strong / offensive smelling foods, take out the trash, clean pet boxes and burn soft scented candles.  Making the buyer wonder if the smell is permanent is a definite draw back. 

·         De-Clutter – Knick-knacks, paperwork and other personal items can make your house look cluttered. Put away everything you can or buyers may question if there is enough storage room in the house. Plus, this will also protect private information.

 

DON'TS 
·         Leave Safety Hazards – Shovel the snow and put down salt in bad weather, if a buyer pulls up and there is snow on the walk way they may simply drive away. Remove cords that may be trip hazards, not only are they dangerous but it may draw attention to a lack or awkward placement of outlets in the room. There are many safety hazards that can be in a home and you as the homeowner are in the best position to know them and secure them from people visiting. Don't depend on the agent because they may never have been to your house. 

·         Don't leave pets – Pets can have unexpected reactions to strangers and buyers may inadvertently let them out. So try to lock them up or take them with you when your house is being shown. 

·         Show your house – Buyers may not know they need to make an appointment and approach your house for a viewing. DON'T SHOW IT- politely give them the name and number of your agent. There are many reasons for this but the most important is safety – you don't know the person you are letting in. Another important one is that you may give information away about your situation that could prove to be to your disadvantage in the bargaining process. 

·         Offer to sell other things – Buyers are there to look for a house, don't try to push your business or property on them – they may feel pressured and leave to avoid the situation. 

·         Stay for the showing  - Although it is not always possible to leave, it is better if the owner is not present during the showing. This helps to create a more comfortable environment for the buyer because many people are uncomfortable opening cabinets and such with the owner there. Also, you being there will give them an opportunity to ask you questions you are not required to disclose….you may not want them to know your neighbor plays music loud every night but you don't want to lie when they ask the question. 

Have you ever been to home when something the homeowner did prevented you from buying....let us know...help others sell!!

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