When An Agent Shows Your Home
Three's a crowd. Avoid having a lot of people present during inspections. The potential buyer will feel like an intruder and hurry through the house.
Music is mellow! Keep the stereo turned on for soft background music. No televisions on, no loud music.
Pets underfoot? Keep your pets out of the way, preferably out of the house. Many people are acutely uncomfortable or allergic around some animals.
Silence is golden! Be courteous but don't force conversation with the potential buyer. He wants to inspect your house, not pay a social call.
Be it ever so humble! Never apologize for the appearance of your home. After all, it has been lived in. Let the trained salesperson answer any objections. This is their job.
Never stay in your house with house hunters. Let the agent handle it, and remove yourself if you possibly can. Remember, the agent has worked many hours with these people and knows what they're looking for and how to work with them. Let him or her do the job without interference. You may feel that an agent isn't showing the important features of your home to the prospect, but the agent knows people aren't sold by details until they've become emotionally involved with the big picture of your home. The presence of any member of the seller's family can't help, always unnerves possible buyers, and often prevents a sale. Don't - put this obstacle in your path; please leave when buyers are coming.
Why put the cart before the horse? Trying to dispose of furniture and furnishings to a potential buyer before he has purchased the house often loses a sale.
A word to the wise. Let your Realtor discuss price, terms, possession and other factors with the prospect. He is eminently qualified to bring negotiations to a favorable conclusion.
