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Four Reasons To Get Out Of Your House - Mistakes Sellers Make Series

By
Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - C. Dan Joyner 21498

Mistakes Sellers Make Series

 

I am mainly a listing agent. I have a couple of agents on my team to work with buyers so I can spend my time listing and marketing. When I am listing a home, one of the first things I tell a client is to leave the home BEFORE a buyer is due to arrive.  At least walk around the block or something, but don’t under any circumstances be at the home! This is a huge turn-off to buyers.  It is also something the other agent really hates.  Agents don’t need your help to point out the great features of your home.  The buyer’s agent knows what that particular buyer is looking for and will make sure to point out the items they know their buyer wants to see.  

There are a lot of reasons for the seller not to be home when it is shown. Below are the top four that I have found in my business.

  • If the seller is home, the buyer can’t fully explore the home.  The whole point is for the buyer to picture themselves living in the home and feeling like it could be theirs. If the seller is there, the buyer can’t do that.  The buyer needs to be comfortable opening cabinets, closets, etc. .. They need to picture their furniture in the home and how the home will work in their life.

  • Buyers also need to be able to talk openly with their agent. They need to be able to express their thoughts and concerns. They may be thinking how a room is too small and therefore deciding the home is not for them. If they can express that to the agent, the agent may be able to offer suggestions like knocking out a wall to make the home perfect for them.  Maybe the colors are not what the buyer likes and some buyers need to be reminded that painting is a cheap fix to make the home what they want.

  • When the seller is home the buyer also feels rushed. They may go through the home so fast that they don’t really even see it and remember it later in the day. Buyers are very intimidated by the seller being around and won’t spend the time needed to know if they like the home or not.  Most buyers won’t even go into the room a seller is in.. And even worse if they are playing tour guide, the buyer just wants to leave asap!

  • And last, but certainly not least, is that sellers tend to talk too much. They give out way too much info that may hurt them when it comes to negotiating later. They may talk about how they have to move asap for a job and can’t afford to move until the home is sold. I even had a seller tell a buyer recently that they were moving out the next week. That is so dangerous! Now someone knows that in a week the home will be vacant! TMI is a real problem when the seller is present. I know the seller thinks they can give good reasons why the home is great, but they usually end up giving reasons why the home is not so great!

 

In the end, let the agents do their job. After all, that is what we are getting paid to do. 

 

For more "Mistakes Sellers Make", follow my blog for installment two in this new series. 

 

 

 

 

Image courtesy of debspoons, / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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If you are looking to buy or sell a home in the  Anderson or Greenville SC real estate areas, visit our website at www.SheilaNewtonTeam.com for tons of great information.

 

   
Sheila Newton   
Sheila Newton Team 
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices -
C. Dan Joyner, Realtors
864-225-1205 (direct)
864-940-6377 (mobile)

www.SheilaNewtonTeam.com    


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Comments (19)

Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Great reasons Sheila, all of them, and the buyers not feeling comfortable talking openly is a biggie. I have shown houses when the sellers were eating dinner and it is "difficult" to say the least.

Mar 23, 2014 10:59 PM
Sheila Newton Team Anderson & Greenville SC
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - C. Dan Joyner - Anderson, SC
Selling the Upstate since 1989

Gary - I wish the sellers would understand we know our job and can handle buyers without their help

Mar 23, 2014 11:02 PM
Michele Webler -Farm and Ranch Specialist
Idaho Real Homes LLC - Rathdrum, ID
Serving North Idaho and E. Wa

Great points especially that the seller doesn't know what is important to the buyer.  Hate having sellers waste my time when I am taking a buyer through a home and they dominate the showing and have to show stuff that is totally unimportant to those particular buyers.  9 times out of 10 they totally ruin that potential sale even if it was the perfect home.  (if its a home that they like and they want to go back through they always specifically ask can you make the seller go away)

Mar 24, 2014 12:08 AM
Melissa Hylton
Home Realty Inc - Atlanta, GA

Well said Sheila.  I wish more listing agents would adopt these principles.

Mar 24, 2014 02:40 AM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

Suggested. Really great post with very valid reasons although, sometimes, it's just not possible for them to leave i.e., incapacitated in some way, frigid conditions etc.

Mar 24, 2014 06:34 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

But Sheila, the buyer broker might forget to show her client the that pull down ironing board that fits snugly behind that little space hidden in the kitchen wall.  Just kidding!

Mar 24, 2014 12:19 PM
Charles Stallions
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services - Pensacola, FL
850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.

Very good post Sheila and all great information to share and help the folks out. 

Mar 24, 2014 01:32 PM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

It does help if sellers step outside during a showing. The buyers do feel intimidated when the homeowners are present and do rush through the property.

Mar 24, 2014 05:29 PM
Sheila Newton Team Anderson & Greenville SC
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - C. Dan Joyner - Anderson, SC
Selling the Upstate since 1989

Michele – sellers don’t realize how bad it really is for them to be there.. 

Melissa – me too!

Jill – thanks for the suggest… I have had that happen with seller not being able to leave, but I ask them to at least go to one room and  STAY there.. LOL

Patricia – LOL..

Charles – for sure.. I hope to get this series going for by website.

 

Inna -  I agree.. it can really hurt the sale!

Mar 26, 2014 04:09 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Hi, Sheila!  Just wanted to let you know that I included this post in today's Last Week's Favorites.

Mar 30, 2014 04:01 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Oh my, this is so true -- I have had buyers leave a house because the seller was lurking.  They whispered, "lets get out of here" and we left.  Too bad because a few good homes have been ignored because of this very reason!

Mar 30, 2014 04:14 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I agree with everything you said.  Buyers just aren't comfortable with the Seller being there.  All they can picture is that Seller in the home, not themselves or their families.

Mar 30, 2014 11:28 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Sheila, of all these reasons, I have seen that sellers over-talk about their home! (Case of FSBOs!)

Mar 30, 2014 02:23 PM
Joyce Marsh
Joyce Marsh Real Estate LLC - Daytona Beach, FL
Joyce Marsh Homes

I totaly agree with all of the points you made.  Buyers are not comfortable with the Seller being there and may rush through and miss important features in the home.

Mar 30, 2014 10:33 PM
Graziella Bruner
NCS Premier Real Estate - Detroit, MI
Associate Broker - Serving Wayne & Oakland County

Great Post and I totally agree, I remember going through a listing and the homeowner was babysitting, my client went thru the home so fast I didn't even get a chance to see it like I wanted to.  I believe we were out of there in less than 5 minutes.  We talked more outside by the car than we did in the house.  

Buyer's don't want to let out their real feelings when the seller is at home. I always tell my sellers - when an appointment is scheduled and its when you're going to be home, just go for a walk, especially if the weather is nice or good time to go to the store.

Mar 30, 2014 11:57 PM
Anne Hensel
South Beaches Real Estate Professionals - Saint Petersburg, FL
Realtor - Broker - St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island

What a great post..  you did a super job listing and explaining your points.. Liked the title also, thought I knew what you meant but had to read to find out!!

Mar 31, 2014 11:24 AM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I agree with all those reasons. Sellers do talk a lot. Even if they are very nice and helpful, it is still better to give buyers some space.

Aug 12, 2014 05:22 PM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

These are all great reasons why the seller should leave the home any time a buyer is going to look at the home. I know I don't like it when I show up and the owner is still at the house, and I know my buyer clients always feel uncomfortable.

Sep 20, 2014 02:40 PM
Sheila Newton Team Anderson & Greenville SC
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - C. Dan Joyner - Anderson, SC
Selling the Upstate since 1989

It is hard to show a house with an owner there! I never have understood why you would list your home and then act like you have to be there to show it.. why not FSBO if you feel like that... at least the buyer expects you to be there that way.. I really thing that is one reason FSBOs don't sell as fast.. Buyers hate to deal with the owner direct!

Sep 20, 2014 11:37 PM