Do Your Buyers Hear What You Hear?

I know my clients age, and play background music for them when they visit me in my office.  I have all the hits from the 1910's to the 50's, and try to play music from when they were a teenager.  We'll be talking, and then one of them will suddenly stop, raise their head, turn around to their spouse, and say "do you remember when we first heard that song?".  It creates a comfortable environment.

Great tips Karen! Off to read the blogs in the links you included, thanks!

It's so true that appealing to the sense can evoke a "homey" feel and help a buyer emotionally attach to a home. Great post!

It's amazing how the "love at first sight" can quickly dissipate to "Ewwww...what's that smell???"  I recently had that exact situation.  Thank goodness the other agent left feedback that I was able to forward to the client.  As it turned out, the lady of the house had cooked a "tart" that was supposed to be an air freshener. It ended up smelling like "cat!"  Totally turned off the potential buyers.  Live and learn!  Keep it simple and fresh...and, if you're going to try a new fragrance, don't try it right before the next showing.

The question is...what do you do about tenants that think it's okay to smoke a little "happy weed" right before a showing?!  I have an agent friend that's been dealing with that little issue....The owner of the property is the father, the son the tenant, and the home is NOT selling....  go figure!

Whatever works and is not a distraction. Whether it be sound or smell or touch. Have been in homes where the scent is so strong it is almost obnoxious.

This is a subject worth more thought. Thinking of my own reactions - a fountain or wind chimes would sound pleasant - music would either be an annoyance or a distraction. 

And a fan - Let me out of here!!

I think that is so true.  But I took my client into a staged home today and the first thing she did was turn off the music playing the back ground.

Wonderful post! All too often we dismiss the sense of hearing as it doesn't sound to be tangible... but as you say, it is all part of the home experience and should not be neglected!

Great advice Karen. I recently sold a home were my clients (the sellers) would put some easy listening music on before a showing. The home was already beautiful but that added to the appeal to the home.

Hi Karen, you are so right.  It all comes down to buyer's emtional decision to buy and sounds are important also.

Great info, I look forward to the rest of the series.

Hi Karen, Thanks for the post, good stuff to know. Question: On a website with full screen high res photos of high end homes is it better to have nice background music or no music? I have been told both ways, but I am leaning toward music.

buyers hear what they want to hear!! They never hear the important details and only remember the facts that suit their postion!!! This is a know fact of life!!

Paddy Deighan

http://www.homesavers.pro

Thanks for these tips.  I like the idea of appealing to buyers on all their senses - through their eyes, noses, ears, and sense of touch.  I look forward to your ideas about appealing to their sense of touch.  Have a great day!  It's gorgeous here in Rockland County, NY and I am currently enjoying listening to robins singing and other birds chirping, too.  My windows are open and so is the door to my deck, as I read and write my comments on AR while soothing my other senses.  I think I smell Spring, too!

Oh, that neighbor dog who is let outside every morning at 5:30am and then begins to bark until he is let back into the house.  Interesting, most people do not visit a home at 5:30 in the morning.

One of the biggest "drawbacks" regarding smell, are the smells of cats or dogs in the home.  I love my dogs and never realized they left a smell in the house after we returned from a trip. It's not BAD but is noticeable until a few hours have passed and your nose gets "used to it". Use Febreze just before showing, vacuum carpets too.  A "plug in" type of odorizer will help make the atmosphere smell better too.

 Cat boxes, even if outside, can make a backyard patio a very uncomfortable place to sit so be sure to clean out the box regularly or move it to some other part of yard and definitely NOT in the house, if at all possible. Pick up the cat food from where they were eating will keep them out of that room while showing the house. Vacuum before showing so that the cat hair is picked up as many people have cat allergies. Vacuuming frequentley will help them not "sneeze" while looking at their house.

I love your post Karen, I never considered the approach you've taken. Your catchphrases really capture the intent with Love at First Sight and Common Scents, I would like to take a crack at the next one, is it... Touch of Class?

I made an appointment for my clients to see a home on Saturday morning. The owner had a client pull up right behind us. The owner didn't want to miss a chance to show her home, but she gave massages in her home and had a client coming by. When we entered the home, there was very relaxing music playing, The owner let us see the home and then led her client into her massage room. It really started the whole tour off on a good note, even if it was a unique situation.

I know smell plays a huge role in showing homes, but I had not thought much about sound. When I hear loud classical music playing in a vacant home, I always wonder if they are hiding some other noises, but when there is soothing music, I am less suspicious. I guess it is the same a with the overpowering air freshener.

Thanks for reminding us of the importance of sound.

This is probably an area that quite often gets overlooked, but can be so powerful!  Thanks for helping  me increase my awareness in this area, it will help me be a better stager!