You’re selling your home, and you’ve done everything right. You
picked a great local real estate professional to work for you. He
or she viewed your home, and made suggestions as to maximize your
home’s value at the time of sale. You worked hard to get it into
its peak condition by doing all the minor repairs, and perhaps
replacing tired wall and floor coverings. You chose a list price
within the range recommended by your local Realtor.
You’re selling your home, and you’ve done everything right. You picked a great local real estate professional to work for you. He or she viewed your home, and made suggestions as to maximize your home’s value at the time of sale. You worked hard to get it into its peak condition by doing all the minor repairs, and perhaps replacing tired wall and floor coverings. You chose a list price within the range recommended by your local Realtor.
Now it’s been listed, and you want to transform the visitors to your home into buyers!
The single most important thing you can do to make showings successful? Be willing to show your home at any time. The more restrictions you put on showings, no matter how reasonable or understandable, the less times your home is seen by ready, willing, and able buyers.
Realtors often have no advance warning they will be showing your home. Sometimes we start out the day with a list of homes. We have appointments to see three homes, all with four bedrooms. After looking at one, the buyers decide they really would prefer a three bedroom with a three-car garage. We have to switch gears and call just as we’re driving up to a listed property. If the seller isn’t ready to show, they miss the opportunity of our buyer.
We all know how hard it is to keep a house clean 24 hours per day. (Clean? My house is supposed to be clean?) Have a plan of attack when a last-minute arrangement is made for a showing. Dishes in the sink? Toss them into the cold oven. Laundry on the couch? Into the hamper and out into the garage. No one expects perfection, just a minimization of mess.
Air out your home if you have time. You might not notice your own home odor, but every house has a smell. Open windows for half hour each morning, or before showings. One caveat: The ambient temperature in the home should be comfortable. You might need to spend a few extra bucks on cooling or heating while you sell you home.
A pleasant atmosphere works wonders. Leave lights on and curtains or blinds open in every room. Soft music (something classical…no heavy metal, please!) can add a touch of elegant calm.
Dogs and children have got to go. A potential buyer will not even notice your home if they walk into a chaotic atmosphere. And Precious the Poodle and Sheba the Siamese probably – well, let’s face it, they do – stink.
You have got to go, too. You may not stink, but you are your home’s WORST salesperson. If you, for some reason, HAVE TO remain in the home during showings you must zip your lips. Never volunteer any information. If you are there, potential buyers will focus on you. If you’re not there, they’ll focus on your home, which is, after all, the point.
Be kind to your local REALTOR and let him or her show off your home.
Nants Foley is a Broker Associate for Coldwell Banker Real Estate in Hollister. Call her at 831.630.1300 or e-mail na***@co************.com.
