Should the house owner stay in the house when it is being shown? Will it help if they hang around and point out cool features of the house?
The answer is no, no, never. I know you love your home and want to point out the great things that the potential buyer might otherwise miss, but do not hang around....leave.
Potential buyers don't need the owners hovering or milling around. They just feel uncomfortable, like they're intruding. Buyers will then hurry through and are be afraid to look in closets etc. The end result is a negative feeling, which obviously you don't want.
Buyers usually remember homes by one strong feature; the spacious living area; the delightful Chef's kitchen; for example. Do not be remembered as the house with the hovering owner.
Some builders are terrible about this. They are so in love with their houses they built that they want to point out each detail. I am a Houston Realtor, and I sell a lot of new houses, like Oak Forest new construction. Trust me, it's better if the buyer discovers it and is wowed by it as opposed to you forcing them to look at it. Let them look at their own pace. Additionally , Realtors know what their buyers want, and will point out those few things. Other things should be discovered by the buyers.
Even if the seller waits outside it can make the buyers feel rushed. Looking at houses is fun. But it's only fun if the buyers can explore, it isn't fun if they feel rushed, or being lead around.
It's also not fun being on the selling siden. Keeping the house clean, the beds made, garments picked up, cleaning the dishes in the sink, arranging the lighting, setting the mood. This is a lot of work. Add to the mix youngsters and animals, and it is very tough. Having to leave the house at the buyer's convenience is also also not fun. But , it's required. Leave cookies out and leave the house. Let the realtor do his job.
It is not convenient now, but you will be happy you did so once it's all over.
The answer is no, no, never. I know you love your home and want to point out the great things that the potential buyer might otherwise miss, but do not hang around....leave.
Potential buyers don't need the owners hovering or milling around. They just feel uncomfortable, like they're intruding. Buyers will then hurry through and are be afraid to look in closets etc. The end result is a negative feeling, which obviously you don't want.
Buyers usually remember homes by one strong feature; the spacious living area; the delightful Chef's kitchen; for example. Do not be remembered as the house with the hovering owner.
Some builders are terrible about this. They are so in love with their houses they built that they want to point out each detail. I am a Houston Realtor, and I sell a lot of new houses, like Oak Forest new construction. Trust me, it's better if the buyer discovers it and is wowed by it as opposed to you forcing them to look at it. Let them look at their own pace. Additionally , Realtors know what their buyers want, and will point out those few things. Other things should be discovered by the buyers.
Even if the seller waits outside it can make the buyers feel rushed. Looking at houses is fun. But it's only fun if the buyers can explore, it isn't fun if they feel rushed, or being lead around.
It's also not fun being on the selling siden. Keeping the house clean, the beds made, garments picked up, cleaning the dishes in the sink, arranging the lighting, setting the mood. This is a lot of work. Add to the mix youngsters and animals, and it is very tough. Having to leave the house at the buyer's convenience is also also not fun. But , it's required. Leave cookies out and leave the house. Let the realtor do his job.
It is not convenient now, but you will be happy you did so once it's all over.
About the Author:
Rich Martin is a Houston Inner-Loop Realtor with Prudential Anderson Properties. He specializes in selling new construction and resale 1 in older close-in neighborhoods like Oak Forest homes. Houston Heights, Timbergrove Manor. These are early to mid 1900's neighborhoods with cool old homes. Rich's house is a Craftsman bungalow which is typical of the 100 year old Woodland Heights homes
