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Tips To Showcase Your House Like A Pro

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Executive Realty 91362

When you put your home on the market your presentation can make or break a sale. Buyers prefer turnkey housing where they don't have to do much work.

As a home seller, you want to make viewing a house as easy and pleasant as possible for a potential home buyer. Viewing a house should certainly not be challenging. The buyer should come away from the viewing having positive feelings.

The more enjoyable the home showing process is the greater chance you will hook a buyer. Let's take a look at some of the better tips for showing a home.

Home Showings Start Online

The first chance a buyer will get to view a property is when they are sitting at their computer browsing new real estate listings from the Multiple Listing Service. Some real estate agents are really in tune to the fact that their online presentation is a key selling element.

Having your house show fantastic online is the first chance, you'll get to improve your chances for a fast sale. First impressions are everything in real estate.

Keep in mind just how vital your home's photography will be to the home selling process. You will want professional photography! It cannot be emphasized enough how vital this will be to the process of selling your home.

The amount of people wanting to view a property will go up exponentially when the presentation is exceptional. When real estate markets turn to favor buyers and showing volume slows, it will be even more crucial not to waste any opportunities.

What is a Home Showing in Person?

A house viewing is any time a buyer is allowed to walk through your property in person. It could be through a private showing with an agent or at a public open house.

When you would like to sell your house for the most money possible, turning down showings is not wise. You can't sell a house unless people can view it.

Getting the most potential buyers as possible into your home should be one of your top considerations.

Preparing Your House For Viewings

Before the house viewings begin it is vital that your home shines! When a buyer walks onto your property, it should be a wonderful experience. Here are some of the things to do to ensure this happens:

  • Make sure your curb appeal is up to snuff. Clean the yard, mulch the beds, and power wash the house. There shouldn't be any leaves hanging out of the gutters. You certainly don't want the home to look neglected.
  • Have the front door area looking great. Buyers will pay attention to how the front door looks and the area immediately around it.
  • The inside of the home should be presented very well - make sure everything is picked up and neat. All of the floors should be cleaned and look excellent.
  • If you have pets make sure there is no visible evidence or ungodly smells.
  • Let in as much light as possible into the home. A bright home is a more saleable property. Draw the curtains and put up the shades.
  • Remove all the clutter on the counters in the home.
  • Get rid of anything that is not coming with you to the next home - donate to charity or call a junk removal company like 1-800-Got-Junk.
  • Excess furniture should be put into storage so that the home feels as spacious as possible.
  • Before every showing do a careful sprucing up to improve the chances of a favorable showing.

Make Showing Your House Easy

Having been a real estate agent for thirty-five years, I can tell you first hand that some sellers do not make the process of showing their home easy. There are a few big home showing mistakes that happen far too often.

They are putting rigid restrictions on when your home can be shown and making your listing agent accompany the showing.

Showing Restrictions Make a Home Harder to Sell

Some sellers don't realize what a nuisance it can be when they are trying to set up showings for multiple properties at a given time and one property can't be shown. The seller has decided they don't want showings after 4. p.m or nothing after noon on the weekend. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

Having restrictions like this screams I am not motivated to sell my home. The second big obstacle is when a seller wants their real estate agent present.

Don't Have Accompanied Showings

In my experience there are two common reasons for this. A seller believes that their real estate agent is somehow going to "sell" their home to the buyer. Folks, selling a home is not like selling a pair of shoes. A Realtor will never be able to talk someone into buying your property.

Pointing out something the buyer may not immediately notice, also isn't going to make or break the sale. A home purchase is an emotional decision that happens within a few minutes of a buyer walking through the door.

Your agent pointing out to the buyer you just replaced two of the toilets in the home, and replaced the carpets isn't going to sell the house.

Don't Let a Real Estate Agent Convince You an Open House is Needed

There are many agents who love to tell home sellers that open houses are necessary. They are not. Open houses benefit agents far more than they do home sellers. An open house is nothing more than a prospecting activity for a real estate agent. Except the prospects are to pick up buyer client's for other properties.

It also increase the chances of the agent double siding the sale which can lead to dual agency. Allowing dual agency means your real estate agent will no longer represent you in the transaction. By law they will not be able to give you any advice throughout the transaction, including when an offer is presented.

Sellers are often mislead to believe that when they see a ton of cars outside a home, it was a success. Unfortunately, while there may be some real buyers in an open house, there will be tons of people that don't belong. You can count on there being lots of people who are not qualified to purchase, your neighbors, and others who just like looking at nice properties.

Serious buyers always schedule showings with real estate agents. If the pandemic has tough anything it is that open houses are a complete waste of time.

Final Thoughts on Home Showings

Without question a home that is appealing is going to sell quicker and for more money than one that is not. It is worth the effort making your home as presentable as possible.

Even if you don't have a large budget, do what you can to make the home showing process a better one for your prospects.

Using these house viewing tips should lead to a quick and more profitable sale.

Is this the type of content you love reading? Check out Bill Gassett's articles on News Break. You'll get expert advice on real estate, mortgages, financing, home improvement, moving, and more.

Posted by

With three decades of experience, Bill Gassett is an authority in the real estate sector. Bill writes informative articles for numerous prestigious real estate sites to help buyers, sellers, and fellow real estate agents. His work has been featured on RIS Media, the National Association of Realtors, Inman News, Placester, Realty Biz News, Credit Sesame, and his own authority resource, Maximum Real Estate Exposure. Reach out to Bill Gassett for his real estate, mortgage, and financial expertise.

Comments (14)

Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good morning Bill - that is an important list.  First impressions are usually lasting ones.

Oct 12, 2022 06:35 AM
Bill Gassett

Very true Grant and especially in real estate sales.

Oct 12, 2022 06:45 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Bill and thank you for sharing this great information with us here in the Rain.  Make it a Special Hump Day!

 

Oct 12, 2022 07:54 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Bill,
All great points. Open Houses proved to be an effective tool for my sellers early in my career. I can't speak to these days since I've been retired for 11 years.

Oct 12, 2022 08:41 AM
Joe Jackson
Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty - Columbus, OH
Clintonville and Central Ohio Real Estate Expert

This is an excellent post with great information. Thanks for sharing it.

Have a super fantastic week!
Joe Jackson, Realtor-KWCP

Oct 12, 2022 11:19 AM
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Great information thanks for sharing.  I hope you have a great day.

Oct 13, 2022 02:30 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Thanks for the comments on showing a home, guys.

Oct 13, 2022 11:50 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Bill. You never get a second opportunity to make a good first impression. That opportunity comes in the quality of the photographs. And, when they show up to see it in person it better look as good out better than the photos. Enjoy your day.

Oct 15, 2022 04:06 AM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
The Grit and Gratitude Agent

If the sellers request me to be present, I am and then I return to my vehicle until the end of the showing.

Oct 15, 2022 07:20 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is outstanding advice to share with home sellers.

Have a productive autumn.

Oct 15, 2022 10:17 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Bill:

There are plenty of important and useful suggestions, as well as things to Not Do, when selling your home. That first impression online is so critical and yet it's surprising how many listings are not done well - limited information, poor photos, and more.

Jeff

Oct 15, 2022 11:50 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Thanks for all the comments guys.

Oct 17, 2022 04:10 AM
Anne Edwards Johnson
All City Real Estate - Austin, TX
Austin Realtor | HookemhomesATX (512)917-5260

The perfect "To Do" list when preparing a home for the market.  I have a seller who does not have the resources to replace the much-needed flooring and I am seeking wisdom on advice moving forward.  Flooring allowance? A flooring company that gets paid at closing? 

Oct 18, 2022 04:56 AM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

I must disagree with the comment about open houses being unnecessary. While it's true that most buyers will make appt with agent to tour home, any exposure for the property can be helpful.  I know several agents who have sold the home to someone who came through the open house--and not via dual agency.

Another must is the house must be CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN!

Oct 18, 2022 01:48 PM
Bill Gassett

You are making the assumption like so many other agents that the buyer would not have scheduled a showing if there was no open house.

If you need an open house to sell a property there is a serious problem. They are agent-centric activities that expose a seller's homes to people who don't belong.

 

Oct 19, 2022 06:07 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Great post and all good points Bill Gassett .  Regarding Open Houses ...  so agree.  The only time I will host an OH is if it is requested by a Seller.  And even then I let them know the whole truth and nothing but the truth about Open Houses.  Thanks for sharing this worthwhile reading on tips to SHOWCASE YOUR HOME like a PRO!

Oct 21, 2022 12:53 PM