A: Sellers, GO! Don't Be the Elephant in the Room!
Vacate Your Home for Showings or Your Home Will NOT Sell!
You’re not alone if you’re a seller and you feel strongly that your home has ‘more-than-meets-the-eye.’ Some sellers feel so strongly about the hidden benefits of their home that they simply must stay in their home for showings--they want to point out all of the many attributes to their fine home.
Trust me when I say, this is NOT a good idea!
If you have an agent worth their ‘salt,’ so to speak, your agent has done his/her job to market those hidden items to the world. If your agent provided brochures for your home, those items should be included in that information, readily available to all of your prospective buyers. If the items that you feel must be pointed out are NOT in your in-home brochures or online for the world to see, then by all means, have your agent take care of that for you--not today but, YESTERDAY!
Rest assured that if you do remain in your home for showings, buyers will rush through your home and won’t take the time necessary to adequately view the property. You WANT to give your buyers the freedom to go from room to room and layout their furniture as they would place it in your home should they buy it. If you’re there, this entire step will be missed. Therefore, the mental image of living in YOUR home, will NEVER be present for any of the potential buyers who come through your home.
Think about times that you go to someone’s home to visit after they’ve been in the hospital–you want to go in, give your well wishes and leave them alone. You don’t want to "wear out your welcome," as they say. This is a simple courtesy that we were raised to understand. Buyers feel the same way; they don’t want to imposition you and they will literally rush to get out of your home.
Bear in mind that when a buyer is touring any home, they like to express objections to their agent; they want the freedom to feel comfortable doing this. When buyers express their objections, this gives the real estate agent the opportunity to offer our expertise in overcoming those objections. When a seller is present, buyers clam-up; they refuse to discuss anything with their agent for fear of hurting the seller's feelings or taking any additional time in the home. That is also an imperative part of the buying process, once again, completely omitted because you were present.
My advice – Don’t be the elephant in the room!
If you don’t want to sell your home, stay put for showings! This will almost guarantee that your home won’t sell! But, if you DO want to sell your home, vacate the premises during any and all showings. Give your buyers the opportunity to ‘explore’ your home. Give your buyers time to visualize their furniture in your home. Give your buyers the time they need to discuss your home with their agent. This is a far more effective means of selling your home!
If you’re preparing to sell your Charlotte home and have questions about comparables, marketing strategies or the process in general--including house-sitting for showings, please call me at (704) 491-3310 or email me at Info@GoogleCharlotte.com for more information. Our plan is not just to LIST your home but, to SELL it!
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