Monday, January 15, 2007
Make yourself scarce
Recently I have had a tough time showing a house because the seller insisted on being present and showing the house himself. We could not agree on a time, and the seller lost out on an opportunity to show his house to a prospective buyer. Sellers should remember this real estate axiom: When buyer's are coming, make yourself scarce. Here's why.
If you, as a seller, insist on being present at all showings, you severely limit the number of people who will see your house. You can't be there all the time, and people are going to want to see your house when you can't be there. So please don't do it.
If you as a seller stay around for a showing, you are going to make the buyer uncomfortable. You want someone looking at your house to buy it, so make it a pleasant experience and make tracks.
If you as a seller stay around for showings, you are going to be drawn in to conversation with prospective buyers, and you will probably say something you shouldn't that might kill the deal. A case in point. Two men from New York who were sick of the crime there were looking at a house along the river. Their agent explained that in this part of Bucks County, people did not lock their doors, so low was the crime rate. When they arrived at the showing, the owner insisted on accompanying the buyer's agent and the men, despite repeated hints that he do something else. The party looked over the house and then went to look at the pool, which was located in the woods behind the house. As the men walked up to admire the pool, the owner told them that the pool once had a heater but that it had been stolen. Because of the owner's unthinking remark, the buyers walked and bought something else.
If you, as a seller, insist on being present at all showings, you severely limit the number of people who will see your house. You can't be there all the time, and people are going to want to see your house when you can't be there. So please don't do it.
If you as a seller stay around for a showing, you are going to make the buyer uncomfortable. You want someone looking at your house to buy it, so make it a pleasant experience and make tracks.
If you as a seller stay around for showings, you are going to be drawn in to conversation with prospective buyers, and you will probably say something you shouldn't that might kill the deal. A case in point. Two men from New York who were sick of the crime there were looking at a house along the river. Their agent explained that in this part of Bucks County, people did not lock their doors, so low was the crime rate. When they arrived at the showing, the owner insisted on accompanying the buyer's agent and the men, despite repeated hints that he do something else. The party looked over the house and then went to look at the pool, which was located in the woods behind the house. As the men walked up to admire the pool, the owner told them that the pool once had a heater but that it had been stolen. Because of the owner's unthinking remark, the buyers walked and bought something else.
