Why Sellers Shouldn't Be Present During Home Showings
Anchorage Real Estate
This may sound like a no brainer but SELLERS SHOULD NOT BE PRESENT AT HOME SHOWINGS. Just the other day I was showing houses to one of my buyers and the seller was there. He was as helpful as could be and wanted to showcase the best aspects of the home, he was always within an ears length away in case we had any questions and he had such a cheerful demeanor... You would think that by him being there, my buyers would instantly jump at the thought of making an offer but NO!!! It was just the opposite.
The seller's presence set off a certain kind of vibe that made my buyer uncomfortable. And how can you blame him? He wanted to be able to look at the house with ease, take his time and maybe even critique some of the things about the home that he didn't like. How could he possibly do that with the seller right there?
Just a few reasons why sellers shouldn't be present during showings:
1. Sellers tend to talk too much. This is understandable. They're excited! They want to tell you all about the new floors, marble countertops and heated garage.. oh, and don't forget the school right down the street that their children attended.
2. The buyer(s) will feel awkward. Homebuyers want to envision themselves living in the house when they are house hunting. They want to be able to open closets, the pantry and yes, even the refrigerator. When the seller is present, buyers spend more time being cautious than actually exploring and enjoying the home showing.
3. The buyer may want to critique or criticize some aspects of the home. With the seller there, the buyers feel more like they are invading someone's space than looking at their potential home. Buyers should be able to voice their opinions and concerns to their agents without feeling afraid that they may be huritng the seller's feelings.
As much as the seller loves the his/her home and wants to shout from the mountain tops how great the house is, it would be more advantageous to leave notes around the home pointing buyers to the wonderful details in the house. Once sellers put their house on the market, it's time to treat the house as a piece of real estate rather than a home that they are emotionally attached to. It's not always easy but it's important to keep the end goal in mind. =)
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