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Selling a vacant house in this Heat!

By
Real Estate Agent with Raleigh Cary Realty

Budgets are tight enough these days, and to have two house payments with rising utility cost can prove to be too much when trying to sell your vacant home.  So what do you do?

Buyers want to feel comfortable in their next home and the temperature is a huge part of helping someone feel at home.  They will understand what the seller is trying to do by keeping the thermostat set high, but will they take the time to really look at the home and visualize themselves living there?  Whether they are conscious or unconscious of why they are not comfortable they will not enjoy being in the home if the temperature is too high. 

Beyond the home showing well, houses need to have air flow.  Also, having the A.C. run helps with humidity.  Do what you can to keep the HVAC on, even at higher temperatures.  It may be worth your money to have a HVAC service company out to make sure it is running optimally.  It may be cost effective to get a programmable thermostat so you can adjust the temperature gradually throughout the day.

If you leave the home at higher temperatures you may want to put a sign on the thermostat asking for prospective buyers and agents to leave the thermostat alone.

Just remember the extra utilty cost you pay now may be well worth the money if you can stop making extra house payments!

Show All Comments Sort:
Lisa Friedman
Alliance Realtors - Bedminster, NJ
Central New Jersey Real Estate

Oh, I agree with you 1000%.  It is terrible trying to show a house that feels like a furnace and the agent and buyers feel like they are going to pass out.

Jun 28, 2008 01:53 PM
Cooper Jacobs
Brier Realtors - Brier, WA
Brier Real Estate - Cooper Jacobs Real Estate

You want buyers to feel comfortable in the house and imagine living there:)

Jun 28, 2008 01:58 PM
Cooper Jacobs
Brier Realtors - Brier, WA
Brier Real Estate - Cooper Jacobs Real Estate

Welcome to Active Rain by the way:)

Jun 28, 2008 01:59 PM
George Wilson
Raleigh Cary Realty - Raleigh, NC
Raleigh Cary Realty 919 439 0965

Hi Cooper,

Thank you I guess it is about time I got Active in Active Rain!

Jun 28, 2008 02:29 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

you might look into home management (like showhomes) for some of those clients.  They will stage and pay the utilities... home manager lives in the house.  it isn't right for all of the situations, but I have a client doing it and he is liking it.

Jun 28, 2008 02:38 PM
George Wilson
Raleigh Cary Realty - Raleigh, NC
Raleigh Cary Realty 919 439 0965

Hi lane, I have heard of that but never looked into like I should have.  Is it showhomes.com?  Definitely a good idea for my clients that I have now.  They were the ones I thought of when I wrote this. 

Jun 28, 2008 02:45 PM