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Showing the House to Potential Home Buyers
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Back to: Seller Tips
Convenience and Availability
 Your house should always be available for show, even though it may occasionally be inconvenient for you. Let your listing agent put a lock box in a convenient place to make it easy for other agents to show your home to potential buyers. Otherwise, agents will have to schedule appointments, which tends to be an inconvenience and can hinder the sale of your home. Most agents will just skip your home to show the house of someone else who is more cooperative.
Many agents will call and give you at least a couple of hours notice before showing your property. If you refuse to let them show it at that time, they will most likely just skip your house. Even if they come back another time, it will probably be with different buyers and you may have just lost a chance to sell your home.
Why You Should Not Be Home
Home buyers will feel like intruders if you are home when they visit, and they might not be as receptive toward viewing your home. Visit the local coffee house, yogurt shop, or take the kids to the local park. If you absolutely cannot leave, try to remain out of the area of the house the buyers are in and do not move from room to room. Do not volunteer any information to the buyers, but answer any questions the agent may ask.
Lighting, Fragrances, Pet Control and More
Lighting
When you know someone is coming by to tour your home, turn on all the indoor and outdoor lights - even during the day. At night, a lit house gives a "homey" impression when viewed from the street. During the daytime, turning on the lights prevents harsh shadows from sunlight and it brightens up any dim areas. A house always looks more homey and cheerful with the lights on.
Fragrances
Do not use scented sprays to prepare for visitors. It is too obvious and many people find the smells of those sprays offensive - not to mention that some may be allergic. If you want to have a pleasant aroma in your house, have a potpourri pot or turn on a stove burner for a moment and put a drop of vanilla extract on it. This will make your home smell like you have been cooking.
Pet Control
If you have pets, make sure your listing agent puts a notice with your listing in the multiple listing service. The last thing you want is to have your pet running out the front door and getting lost. If you know someone is coming, it would be best to try to take the pets with you while the home buyers tour your home. If you cannot do that, it is best to keep dogs in a penned area in the back yard. Try to keep indoor cats in a specific room when you expect visitors, and put a sign on the door. Most of the time, an indoor cat will hide when buyers come to view your property, but they may panic and try to escape.
The Kitchen Trash
Make sure you empty the trash every time someone comes to look at your home, expecially if your kitchen trash doesn't have a lid on it. Empty the trash even if your trash can is kept under the kitchen sink. Remember that you want to send a positive image about every aspect of your home. Kitchen trash does not send a positive message. You may go through more plastic bags than usual, but it will be worth it.
Keeping the House Tidy and Neat
Not everyone makes his or her bed every day, but when selling a home it is recommended that you develop the habit. Pick up papers, do not leave empty glasses in the family room and keep everything freshly dusted and vacuumed. Try your best to have it look like a model home - a home with furniture but nobody really lives there.
All Articles ©2000 Real Estate ABC
No articles may be reprinted or displayed without permission
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This information is deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed.
You are advised to independently verify any information
or data that influences your decision to purchase or sell
a property. The current listings & closed transactions
are taken from the Southern California Multiple Listing Service
and may not be the work product from any one agent or broker.
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Tony Dove, REALTOR®
Direct: (714) 283-1116
Toll Free: (800) 615-2707
Email: Tony@TonyDove.com
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