Special offer

Should Homeowners be Present During Showings?

Reblogger
Real Estate Broker/Owner with American West Realty and Management 12599

In my mind, very few things will turn off a Buyer more than a Seller trying to sell the home. Read the article below from Beth Atalay for some examples of how this can hurt the sale.

Original content by Beth Atalay

Should Homeowners be Present During Showings?

If you are a homeowner thinking about selling your home, my advice is to first find a local REALTOR® you feel comfortable with. Someone who knows the area as well as the real estate market and honest with you.

As a seller, your goal is to get your home sold for the most money in the shortest time. To achieve this, it’s important to make sure;



-your home is priced right
-shows well
-marketed well
-available to show


For the purpose of this post, let’s elaborate on “Available to show”.

There should not be any showing instructions. Selling a home while it’s occupied is not an easy task but it will be for only a while until your home is under contract, until then, you have to do everything possible to make your home available to potential buyers. Remember, if your home can not be shown, it won’t sell.
What does that mean?

-Don’t have any day or time restrictions
-Have your home show ready at all times
-Allow your agent to put a lock box on the door
-Do not demand your listing agent to be present during showings
-Leave your home for every showing


Buyers want to freely walk around your home to see if it will be a right fit for them. If you’re following them around, they will be out the door faster than you can squeeze in a few comments.
Leaving your home during showings means just that. Walking out the door and going somewhere away from it, it's not just sitting in the living room and watching TV, not sitting by the pool.
Buyers want the freedom to be able to talk freely with their agent, if you’re hovering around, they can not possibly do that. I understand the fact sellers get excited and feel that buyers may miss a few things without the homeowner present. Fear not! They have a competent agent who can address those concerns with your agent.

Some agents demand to be present for every showing which can backfire. As a seller, you should truly question this practice. What benefit would that have? Is it a practice they have or are they doing it for your benefit?

When representing buyers, they often ask if the homeowners would be home prior to entering, if the answer is yes, they show very little enthusiasm and ready to go for a quick tour and be out the door and on their way to the next home, hopefully, the one without the homeowner present.

If you are a homeowner thinking about selling your home, my advice to you is to remove all emotions out of the way and look at it as a business transaction. Your home is the product and you must do your best to attract potential buyers, the faster you can do this, sooner you will be packing up and on your way to the closing table.

Should Homeowners be Present During Showings?

 

 

Where to live in Orlando

       Follow Beth on Pinterest  

Beth Atalay, Broker/Owner

Cam Realty and Property Management

407-929-1852
Wheretoliveinorlando.com BethAtalay@Gmail.com
Your Orlando Agent - Where to Live in Orlando

 

CAM Realty

Comments (14)

Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Nathan. "Available to show" should be an understanding at the time the listing is taken! Enjoy your day!

Jan 18, 2017 05:48 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Thank you so much for the reblog Nathan Gesner, buyers and their agents are more than able to tour the home without the homeowner, in fact, that's how it should be.

Jan 18, 2017 06:04 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is an excellent selection for a reblog and important advice for home sellers.

Jan 18, 2017 06:13 AM
Eva B. Liland Century 21 Doug Anderson
Century 21 Doug Anderson - Lancaster, CA
Glad to be of Service 661-714-1643

Yes, it should be discussed when you are taking the listing. It is also important to remove any valuables.

Jan 18, 2017 06:35 AM
Amanda S. Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale

Nathan, great choice for a re-blog. Beth really did a nice job on this post. Sellers should take note and make plans to be elsewhere during showings. Have a great week.

Jan 18, 2017 06:42 AM
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

Wayne Martin Roy Kelley and Eva B. Liland with Century 21 Doug Anderson thanks for commenting!

Amanda S. Davidson I couldn't agree more. I occasionally manage rentals that are also listed for sale and the Tenant is more likely to ruin a sale than help it.

Jan 18, 2017 07:10 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Nathan, great re-blog and some homes are absolutely difficult to get into with so many showing instructions or the Sellers must be home.

Jan 18, 2017 01:29 PM
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

Thank you for checking in Joan Cox !

Jan 18, 2017 07:09 PM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Nathan, I must agree with you-Sellers should not be present during showings.

Jan 18, 2017 09:43 PM
Nathan Gesner

Thanks for commenting!

Jan 20, 2017 01:24 PM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

The answer is no, no and never Nathan Gesner. It is a talk i have with all my sellers

Jan 19, 2017 06:08 AM
Nathan Gesner

Me, too! Thanks for commenting!

Jan 20, 2017 01:24 PM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I say usually not unless the buyer requests it for additional information about the property.

Jan 19, 2017 07:50 PM
Nathan Gesner

Even then, I prefer to be the filter. Thanks!

Jan 20, 2017 01:25 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good Friday morning, Nathan. Have a great day and an outstanding weekend.

Jan 20, 2017 07:26 AM
Nathan Gesner

You, too!

Jan 20, 2017 01:25 PM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Nathan Gesner,  What a great reblog by Beth Atalay and one that more people should be seeing.

 

Jan 20, 2017 10:48 AM
Nathan Gesner

Thanks! Have a great weekend!

Jan 20, 2017 01:25 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Thanks for the re-blog, Nathan.  Excellent advice for sellers.

Jan 21, 2017 05:04 AM