How long will a showing last? Sellers want to know how long showings last when their home is listed for sale. They need to know how long they'll need to stay away from their home while the buyers are viewing it.
Every buyer is different. Some will know in 5 seconds if they like or don't like the house while others may take 20 minutes to decide. If they do like the house, some buyers will stay in it for an hour or longer. They will be figuring out where every piece of their furniture will go, which drawer in the kitchen will house their silverware, which kids will go in which bedroom, and where the litter box will go.
Buyers may also be deciding what changes will need to be made to make the house work for them. They may discuss paint colors. They may talk about expanding a bathroom or putting in a patio. We may spend some time running up and down the stairs to see if it might be possible to move the washer & dryer from the basement to the bedroom level.
If there is only one buyer, that individual will be able to make decisions more quickly than a couple. Two people buying a house together have to consider one another's opinions and tastes which will probably not be exactly the same. They may have to discuss compromises so each person can be happy in the home.
Experienced buyers will be able to make decisions more quickly than first-time home buyers. They already know what works for them and what doesn't. Couples who've been married for 30 years will be able to come to an agreeable compromise faster than newlyweds. Newlyweds are still learning one another's likes and dislikes while the 'old married couple' already know each other's tastes, habits, and proclivities.
A good rule of thumb is for sellers to stay away for 2 hours when their house is being shown. This gives the buyers time to be comfortable and feel at home in the house. It also allows for traffic and previous home showings as their agent will probably set up appointments to see between 3 and 6 homes over a 2 to 4 hour period.
Comments(10)