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"Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

By
Real Estate Agent with Associate Broker at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Georgia Properties 256152

There was an old pop song by "The Clash" called "Should I Stay or Should I Go". It most definitely was not about real estate, but it poses a common question for sellers.

Gently put, most agents say that when potential homebuyers come to see your home, it’s best that you leave the premises.  

Perspective buyers don’t want to see owners hovering or milling about. When they do, they get uncomfortable and feel as if they are intruding. This often causes buyers to look quickly without gaining a proper feel for the home.

The reason sellers give for sticking around is that they believe home shoppers won’t be able to find everything, and the sellers want to point out the important features. Another is that owners feel they can help “sell” the property by talking about the positives.

Rest assured your real estate agent is well trained in showcasing your home, and in reading buyers and knowing when it’s best to relay information to them. If you bombard a seller with too much information all at once, you are going to leave a less-favorable impression. You might even hurt your cause by calling attention to something buyers aren’t interested in.

Let buyers discover your home’s features themselves at their own pace.

Some sellers choose to wait outside in their car or on the patio, which is better, but still not ideal. Again, if prospective buyers feel like they are being rushed they are going to move on to the next property on their list quickly.

Face it, there are some parts of selling a home that can be challenging and vacating the home is at the top of that list—especially when there are kids to care for, dinners to cook and work to be done.

However, you want buyers to spend as much time as they want in your home, envisioning the possibility of living there someday. So go to a neighbor’s home, the library or shopping. The inconvenience will be worth it in the long run.

Lynn Pruitt
Keller Williams Lanier Partners - Hartwell, GA

That's great advice Ron!  Some buyers are very uncomfortable with sellers around.  They tend to hurry through the showing and exit as soon as possible.  Exactly what you do NOT want to happen.  I understand the interest of the sellers to stay, however it is always best if they are not around.

 

Oct 27, 2012 09:46 AM