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Home Seller Tip: Don't Decline Showings

By
Real Estate Agent with Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real 0225221517

Home Seller Tip: Don't Decline Showings
When your house goes on the market it’s a time to tap into every ounce of flexibility you have. As a seller declining showings is a sure way to extend the time your home is on the market, impact your bottom line, and cause yourself more work in the long run. A house that can’t be shown isn’t likely to be sold. It’s currently a seller’s market in the Alexandria area but, that doesn’t mean the necessity to allow showings on your home is erased.

 

Home Seller Tip: Don't Decline Showings

 

The thought process that a buyer will just reschedule for another time isn’t a good one. We recently had a listing where the seller was declining about 50% of the showings. If the timing wasn’t just right for the sellers schedule the showing was declined. Reasons varied from I’m working from home on X day or I don’t want to have to wait to come home after work. Of all the showings that were declined only one was rescheduled. ONE! Buyers and their agents have schedules too and by declining a showing request a seller risks losing that buyer. Think about if they have a few homes set up to tour on a certain day. They might fall in love with one of those homes, make an offer, and never have a need to come back to the house that declined their showing request. Some buyers even take a declined showing request as a sign the seller will be difficult to work with and decide it’s best to just move on.

 

Declining Showing Requests

 

Having your home on the market is a lot of work. It’s a guarantee your daily routine is going to be interrupted. It requires getting up earlier to clean, make beds, and put away any clutter that landed on tables and counters from the night before. It also requires you to be away from your home even when it’s not convenient to be. It’s best to approve all reasonable showing requests. I say reasonable because there are always those times a call comes in for a showing request with 5 minutes notice – that I can definitely understand not being possible in most cases. However, if the showing instructions have been followed approving the requests is the best plan. As a seller, you’re more likely to go under contract faster and then not have to worry about showing requests. Any request that you decline could have been your homes new buyer but, it’s rare if you’ll ever know because they won’t likely reschedule for another time.

 

Declining Showing Requests

 

Going back to the listing we had, it stayed on the market three times longer than any other listing we’ve had in over three years. Because of that, the buyer saw room for negotiation and it ultimately cost the seller on their bottom line. It wasn’t that the home wasn’t nice, it showed beautifully but, if buyers can't get in to see a home they don't know how well it shows in person. Buyers can see a lot online in today’s world and that’s a great thing but, for most, it’s a necessity to get inside a home and walk through it to see if it’s the one. Buyer’s need the opportunity to make that emotional connection that causes them to then want to make an offer. No matter where you live or what the current market conditions are – if you are selling your home approving showing requests is a must. Being flexible with your schedule will pay off!

 

 

Posted by

 

Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group

 

 

      

 

AMANDA DAVIDSON  
l ASSOCIATE BROKER l  
l AMANDA DAVIDSON REAL ESTATE GROUP BROKERED BY Real

C  703.431.3755   |   O  855.450.0442  |   W  www.amandadavidson.com

A  1765 Greensboro Station Place Suite 900 McLean, Va 22102




Comments (24)

William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

It may be and will be inconvenient but not allowing a showing could be the buyer moving on.

Apr 06, 2018 07:17 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is very good reading for home sellers. 

They will have an advantage when they accept your advice.

Apr 06, 2018 07:58 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Amanda S. Davidson  Great information here the buyer you deny a showing too my have been the buyer who would have purchased your home --- Never deny a showing

Apr 06, 2018 08:09 AM
Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

Amanda: Sellers in my market who turn down buyer showings often have their home sit on the market much longer than readily available properties. Show to sell!!!

Apr 06, 2018 08:26 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Good morning, Amanda. A real "red flag" moment.  

Apr 06, 2018 08:26 AM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

You never know when that right buyer is going to appear. It may be hard to do, but we never like to miss an opportunity!

Apr 06, 2018 03:43 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good moring Amanda  - this is so true.  The good news is that the inconvenience will not be as long in a sellers market.  But you only have once chance to make a first impression.

Apr 07, 2018 04:12 AM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Excellent advice, Amanda.  Down here in Florida many buyers will fly in for just a few days to look.  Sellers will only have that one chance to show their home.

Apr 07, 2018 04:38 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

This is so important, I tell all of my sellers that someone could even knock on the door and want to see the home, so show it to them!

Apr 07, 2018 06:48 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Amanda, it baffles me when sellers decline showings!   They have to know without showing it, they won't see ANY offers.

Apr 07, 2018 09:10 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

We must educate the sellers to know it is most important to let the buyers see it. Flexibility will pay off with an offer.

Apr 07, 2018 07:12 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

It doesn't happen often...but when we do have one declined...especially in divorce where the ocuupant may not really want to sell...it is time for "the talk."

Apr 08, 2018 04:57 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Amanda,  You hit the nail on the head.  I explain upfront to my people, you have to show the house to get contracts.

 

Apr 08, 2018 08:30 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Wonderful advice and I have to say, you're spot-on about the rescheduling when initially declined, Amanda. I've even had them ask for an hour difference in time and the buyers never returned. It's shooting yourself in the foot when you're a seller - and you wind up on the market longer and making less money in the process!

Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday!

Apr 08, 2018 11:01 AM
Amanda S. Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale

I enjoyed reading all of your comments and am glad you all could relate. Showings are a must when selling a home!

Apr 09, 2018 05:03 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

This should be a featured post, this is so true, I think agents need to impress on their clients this is the #1 thing they need to understand when listing their home. The second is don't insist on your agent being there for every showing, there is no need it also creates an issue with ease of showing the home and making appointments.

Apr 11, 2018 09:25 AM
Amanda S. Davidson

Nick & Trudy Vandekar, 610-203-4543 you make an excellent point with wanting the listing agent to be present. In most cases that's definitely not the best practice and something to steer clear of. Great point!

Apr 11, 2018 10:57 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Great post, Amanda and I agree. Once the seller says no to a showing, buyers usually never come back at another day/time.

Apr 13, 2018 10:43 AM
Amanda S. Davidson

Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor® thank you. Sellers have to show to sell, it seems to be more prevalent this year that buyers just don't come back. The market is moving too fast for them to loop back.

Apr 13, 2018 12:32 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Amanda S. Davidson,

Loved this post and so glad that Roy Kelley re-blogged as I missed it. When your home is on the market the key is to let it be shown..be flexible!

Jun 12, 2018 05:48 AM
Amanda S. Davidson

Dorie Dillard amen! Flexibility is just plain a must when selling. Thank you!

Jun 12, 2018 10:56 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Our Sellers know they can expect a phone call if any showing is declined...no no no !

Jun 12, 2018 05:54 AM
Amanda S. Davidson

Sally K. & David L. Hanson hopefully you don't have to make those too often! No no no is right!

Jun 12, 2018 10:57 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Amanda S. Davidson to decline showings in this market is sinful.... and a signal that seller doesn't want to sell... 

Jun 12, 2018 06:05 AM
Amanda S. Davidson

Barbara Todaro I agree!

Jun 12, 2018 10:57 AM