How to Show Your Home: Should You Stick Around?

This is a blog series on preparing for a successful showing of your home for sale. In a slower real estate market, sellers cannot afford to ignore any part of the marketing process. Price, preparation, and presentation must be compelling in order to attract a buyer.

The price must be set realistically. Preparation should be complete – with paint touched up; space de-cluttered; floors clean or updated; and glaring repairs handled. And, presentation should be meticulous – with drapes open; lights on; interior immaculate; and lawn mowed.

Now you are ready to show your home. This is the final step in winning the heart of a buyer. A call for a showing is an expression of interest in your home. The potential buyers are clearly interested in your neighborhood, and have most likely seen your home on line. They are willing to invest their time for a visit. It is worth the effort to make each showing one that will be remembered.

Should You Stick Around?

Generally, it is not a good idea to be present for the showing. Remember that this is not a social visit. Most buyers will feel that they are intruding on your privacy if you are in the house. They may shorten the time spent in your home. Or, they may not be able to discuss your home as freely as they might have. If it is difficult to leave, you may sit outside or take a short walk.

Sometimes sellers try to offer certain information, and they inadvertently turn the buyer off. It is best not to make assumptions about what the buyer wants. Keep in mind that buyers are there to make a big decision. They need some time to experience your home on several levels. If it passes the first test, there will be time to communicate how many water heaters you have and other facts about the house.

I recall one showing in which the seller questioned the buyers about whey were looking for.  This is not an easy question to answer.  They are figuring this out as they absorb the inventory.  In another case the seller actually grilled the buyer on his reaction to every room, and then argued about it.

It was a relief to leave.

Austin Texas Real Estate Guide

How to Show Your Home – Is Your Home safe for visitors?

This is a blog series on preparing for a successful showing of your home for sale. In a slower real estate market, sellers cannot afford to ignore any part of the marketing process. Price, preparation, and presentation must be compelling in order to attract a buyer.

 

The price must be set realistically. Preparation should be complete – with paint touched up; space de-cluttered; floors clean or updated; and glaring repairs handled. And, presentation should be meticulous – with drapes open; lights on; interior immaculate; and lawn mowed.

 

Now you are ready to show your home. This is the final step in winning the heart of a buyer. A call for a showing is an expression of interest in your home. The potential buyers are clearly interested in your neighborhood, and have most likely seen your home on line. They are willing to invest their time for a visit. It is worth the effort to make each showing one that will be remembered.  

 

 

Is Your Home Safe for Visitors?

 

Remember that showing your home is going to interfere with your day to day life.  You will need to prepare for some inconvenience and intrusion into your privacy.  Consider the safety of your visitors.  There may be seniors as well as small children walking around your home.

Is there a statue or tall lamp that could easily fall if touched?  Are there wires at ground level that could trip someone?  Are there rugs that tend to slide?  Are stair and upper level railings safe for small children?  (Or, could a child fall through?)  Could a visitor be bitten by a bird or other animal?  Are the stairs free of small toys?  Are traffic patterns open between rooms?  Are there rotten deck boards that could give way?

Also consider your own security and privacy.  Put away valuable possessions.  Do not leave money, guns, jewelry, x rated magazines or any personal items in public view.  Do not leave breakable objects where they could be accidentally bumped.  Move your medicines to a secure location.  Do not leave bleach or poisons in reach of children.  Do not leave candles burning when you leave the house. 

Having your home on the market will most certainly involve some changes in your lifestyle.  Your home will be a product on the market, open for viewing.  Consider the safety of visitors who will be in your home, and safeguard your own possessions.  Take precautions during the showing process to make your home safe for visitors.    

   Roselind Hejl’s Austin Texas Real Estate Guide

How to Show Your Home – What’s the Plan for Kids?

This is a blog series on preparing for a successful showing of your home for sale. In a slower real estate market, sellers cannot afford to ignore any part of the marketing process. Price, preparation, and presentation must be compelling in order to attract a buyer.

The price must be set realistically. Preparation should be complete – with paint touched up; space de-cluttered; floors clean or updated; and glaring repairs handled. And, presentation should be meticulous – with drapes open; lights on; interior immaculate; and lawn mowed.

Now you are ready to show your home. This is the final step in winning the heart of a buyer. A call for a showing is an expression of interest in your home. The potential buyers are clearly interested in your neighborhood, and have most likely seen your home on line. They are willing to invest their time for a visit. It is worth the effort to make each showing one that will be remembered.

————

What is the plan for kids and pets?

 

If your children, babysitter, house cleaner, or guests are home during the day, they need to know what to expect.  Make sure that you are called at work or on your cell phone for showing requests.  Then you can alert your children or guests to expect a showing.  Children of all ages, as well as adults, need to be coached on the showing process.

 

Review a plan for them to follow and rehearse it a couple times.  For example, they may open the door for the agent and buyer, and then go next door during the showing.  Or, they may sit outside.  If a baby is asleep, the caretaker may meet the agent and buyer at the door, and let them know that she will be in the bedroom with the baby.  Make sure everyone knows that the house must be prepared for the showing, with toys picked up, lights on, and televisions off. 

 

Discuss what to do if an unexpected person comes to the door asking to see the home.  Your children and guests must not allow entry to anyone who has not made prior arrangements through you. 

 

If you have a pet, look for ways to avoid confrontations between your pet and potential buyers.  Your pet may be fearful of strangers entering the house.  Or, some people are afraid of, or allergic to, animals, and are not happy to encounter them.  There will be a variety of people entering your home, including children.  If you are unsure of how your pets will react to strangers, be sure to take them out or keep them protected, during showings. 

 

I recall a client who panicked at the sight of a small puppy in a home.  I found that hard to understand until I realized that I reacted the same way to a ferret that was loose in a house that I was showing.  I was ready to jump on the table.

 

If you have a pet at home during showings, communicate this to the showing agent and buyers.  Leave a note in the house saying where your pet is located and giving special instructions. (Dog in laundry room; Cat must stay indoors; Do not enter backyard; Keep doors closed at all times) 

 

Remember that the showing is the most important part of marketing your home.  Here is where the rubber meets the road.  Be sure that distractions or confusion do not interfere with the showing of your home.

 

Roselind Hejl’s Austin Texas Real Estate Guide

 

How to Show Your Home – Are You Staged and Ready?

This is a blog series on preparing for a successful showing of your home for sale.  In a slower real estate market, sellers cannot afford to ignore any part of the marketing process.  Price, preparation, and presentation must be compelling in order to attract a buyer. 

The price must be set realistically.  Preparation should be complete – with paint touched up; space de-cluttered; floors clean or updated; and glaring repairs handled.  And, presentation should be meticulous – with drapes open; lights on; interior immaculate; and lawn mowed. 

 

Now you are ready to show your home.  This is the final step in winning the heart of a buyer.  A call for a showing is an expression of interest in your home.  The potential buyers are clearly interested in your neighborhood, and have most likely seen your home on line.  They are willing to invest their time for a visit.  It is worth the effort to make each showing one that will be remembered.   

Are you staged and ready? 

Sellers often ask if it would be best to show their home furnished or vacant.  Of course this depends on how the home is furnished.  If your home is dirty, messy, and poorly decorated, you have a serious impediment to marketing.  Unless you improve your presentation, you will receive a low offer, if you get an offer at all.  It is amazing how much a reduction in stuff will improve the look of your home.  Consider renting a storage unit or stack clean boxes in the garage.  There are staging services that can do wonders with your furniture and accessories. 

 

For some folks it is best to move out during the marketing process.  Rather, than leaving it completely vacant, some furniture and accessories will help to soften the interior and show it in an optimum way.  For example, soaps and towels in the bathroom, and kitchen accessories give an occupied feel.   

 

In an occupied home, it is important to keep the buyers’ focus on the property, and not on you.  Put away most of your personal collections and family photos.  Of course, some framed photos, magazines, flowers, and art pieces should be used on tables or walls.  Light is a very important part of the showing process.  Open blinds and curtains to bring in light, enlarge the space, and show views.  In addition to natural light, lamps add a warm glow.     

 

I remember one house with a bedroom that was painted very dark, and had one covered window and a large snake asleep in his container.  Fear and anxiety are not emotions you want to illicit during a showing of your home.  Avoid displaying things that are going to distract or offend some people (political statements, guns, nude art, posters, animal heads).  These distract from the important mission that brought the buyer into your home. Keep the focus on the best aspects of your property. 

 

The buyer must establish a sense of trust of your home.  Messiness and confusion send a deeper message that the home is not well cared for.  It speaks volumes about how maintenance has been handled.  You only have a few minutes to communicate that your home is the right one.  Make sure the visit to your home is a pleasurable experience that keeps the buyer’s focus where it needs to be – on the features of your home.  

 Austin Texas Real Estate Guide  

How to Show Your Home – Do You Have Emotional Appeal?

This is a blog series on preparing for successful showings of your home for sale.  In a slower real estate market, sellers cannot afford to ignore any part of the marketing process.  Price, preparation, and presentation must be compelling in order to attract a buyer. 

The price must be set realistically.  Preparation should be complete – with paint touched up; space de-cluttered; floors clean or updated; and glaring repairs handled.  And, presentation should be meticulous – with drapes open; lights on; interior immaculate; and lawn mowed. 

 

Now you are ready to show your home.  This is the final step in winning the heart of a buyer.  A call for a showing is an expression of interest in your home.  The potential buyers are clearly interested in your neighborhood, and have most likely seen your home on line.  They are willing to invest their time for a visit.  It is worth the effort to make each showing one that will be remembered. 

 Does your home have emotional appeal?

 Keep in mind that your potential buyers are there to make a big decision.  They will be comparison shopping.  When they come into your home they are in a state of heightened awareness.  Their job is to eliminate homes and reduce the list of choices.  Buyers use all of their senses to experience your home.  A dark interior, unpleasant smell, barking dog, or uncomfortable temperature can take the home off the list.   

 

I see this happen all the time.  The simple experience of being in the home during the showing is a key indicator of whether the buyer will enjoy living in the home later.  Builders know this very well.  Their model homes are very light and fashionably decorated, with soft music and pleasant scents.  This sends a message to the buyer that the home has been prepared for him, and he is welcome to enter.  People are often sold when they walk in.

 

Some tips:  Take off some screens, open blinds, increase bulb sizes, play some light music, and make sure the temperature is perfect.  Be careful that your scents are designer quality.  Don’t use plug in scents that remind people of a public bathroom.  Create a good mood with natural and lamp light.  Use pillows, framed photographs, books, fresh towels, and flowers throughout the home.  Avoid having the TV on.  Be careful about cat little boxes and other pet odors.  As you prepare your home for a showing, appeal to buyers emotions through all of their senses. 

 Austin Texas Real Estate Guide  

Blogs:Green Building Project

Real Estate Market

Austin Energy Upgrades 

How to Show Your Home – Is Your Home Easy to Show?

In a slower real estate market, sellers cannot afford to ignore any part of the marketing process.  Price, preparation, and presentation must be compelling in order to attract a buyer. 

The price must be set realistically.  Preparation should be complete – with paint touched up; space de-cluttered; floors clean or updated; and glaring repairs handled.  And, presentation should be meticulous – with drapes open; lights on; interior immaculate; and lawn mowed. 

 

Now you are ready to show your home.  This is the final step in winning the heart of a buyer.  A call for a showing is an expression of interest in your home.  The potential buyers are clearly interested in your neighborhood, and have most likely has seen your home on line.  They are willing to invest their time for a visit.  It is worth the effort to make each showing one that will be remembered.  This is a blog series on preparing for successful showings of your home for sale.

 

 

Is your home easy to show?

 

If possible, schedule showings in the same way that is used by a majority of the homes in your area.  This may be by special appointment or by a lockbox system.   Remember that this will be the buyers’ first contact with you.  Your response should set a positive tone.  Go out of your way to make the buyers and their agent feel welcome.  Some home sellers set out a plate of cookies or small bottles of water and soft drinks.  This sends a wonderful message that visitors to their home are welcome and appreciated. 

 

Be as flexible on timing as possible.  Consider that buyers may be viewing many homes over a large area.  They may be dealing with traffic, children’s needs, etc.  It is often difficult to make precise appointments.  If extra timing flexibility is needed, you could wait until they arrive before leaving your home.  Welcome them at the door, and then leave by car or take a short walk.

 

 

You may get an occasional last minute call for a showing.  The buyers and agent may already be in front of your house.  If this happens, start by thanking the agent for the interest, and discuss how to proceed.  You have three choices:  Welcome them in right then; ask for some time to get ready; or let them know that the time simply will not work.  The important thing is to keep a friendly, professional attitude. 

 

I can recall instances in which the seller came to the door in a hostile way and demanded to know why we were 30 minutes late.  Or, the buyers sensed that they were inconveniencing the seller or their agent by asking to see the house.  Most people have a strong reluctance to intrude or bother other people.  Remember that the decision to buy a home is emotional response.  Don’t create a negative response before your potential buyers come in the door.  Make your home easy and pleasant to show.

 

Austin Texas Real Estate Guide 

Blogs:Green Building Project

Real Estate Market

Austin Energy Upgrades