Showing Your House Basics
Potential buyers can see your home and have a personal experience at a real estate showing. Showings are an important part of the home-buying and selling process. 79% of potential buyers stated that a private tour was very important in their decision to buy a home.
What Is A Real-Estate Showing?
Any opportunity to show a potential buyer your property in person is a real estate showing. You can host an open house or lockbox tour or have a private showing.
Avoiding showings is not an option if you are looking for a traditional buyer and you wish to encourage multiple offers. Sight-unseen transactions are rare, except when dealing with out-of-town or international buyers.
Here are some tips to help you sell your home.
What Is An Open House?
Open-houses allow potential buyers to come together in one place, typically over the course of three to four hours on a Saturday afternoon. Open houses are a great way to streamline the selling process. More people can view your home at one time. In addition, potential buyers may feel more competitive if they have to make an offer quickly.
Open houses are a great way to reduce the hassle of showings. You'll only need to make your house ready for buyers one time and will know the exact schedule well in advance. In addition, open houses are a great way to attract potential buyers who may be just visiting the area.
Open houses have a downside: not all who attend your open house are qualified buyers. Open houses can attract many lookie-loos who may not be interested in buying your house.
What Does A Lockbox Showing?
Lockbox tours are more convenient than private tours because potential buyers can view your home with their agents. In addition, this setup gives potential buyers more flexibility when it comes to scheduling. For example, instead of waiting for an agent to show the house, they can let themselves in.
Lockbox tours are a popular choice for buyers because they allow them to freely express their opinions about the house without having to worry about the seller listening.
Potential security risks can arise from letting strangers in your home when you're not there. More safety precautions will be discussed later.
What Is A Private Showing?
Private house shows are the most popular home tour arrangement. This is where your agent takes buyers on a private tour of the house. After attending an open house, serious buyers may request a private tour. This is a great sign!
Private tours allow sellers and their agents to manage the showing. Agents can answer buyers’ questions immediately, point out your home's best features, and ensure that nothing is stolen or damaged.
Private tours have one drawback: buyers might feel uncomfortable opening closets, looking through storage areas, or spending time in each room.
How To Prepare A House For Sale
You can schedule house showings without prior notice. However, it is best to keep your home spotless while it is being sold. In addition, it is important to be available to show the house to anyone who calls.
You can know how long you have to prepare for an open house if you have one scheduled. In addition, private tours and lockboxes may require you to give notice. These are some ways to prepare your home for showings.
Before The First Showings
Thoroughly Clean:
Steam carpets, vacuum hard floors, clean windows, and polish appliances.
Protect Your Possessions:
Keep valuables safe to prevent theft of expensive items and private information.
Make A Plan For Your Children And Pets:
Your shows will go much smoother if family pets and young relatives are absent.
Make rooms appear smaller by depersonalizing and decluttering:
You want your buyers to see themselves in the home.
Arrange Furniture According To Needs:
Take out furniture to make rooms appear larger, and move furniture around to give each room a clear purpose. To make a bonus space more functional, you can add a desk and a chair or move a twin-sized bed into an empty room.
Do Not Forget The Exterior:
Curb appeal is what makes your home stand out. Your to-do list may vary according to the season. Common tasks include pulling weeds and planting flowers.
Make Sure Storage Spaces Are Tidy:
Every buyer wants a home that has lots of storage. This means that they will be opening closets, garage doors, and pantry doors. You don't need to stuff extra things into your closets. They should be clean and tidy.
Highlight The Most Important Features:
Find the most appealing features in your home. Remove the rug covering hardwood floors. Do you love your stainless steel appliances? Do not hide your stainless steel appliances behind dish towels or refrigerator magnets.
Tips For A Home Showing
Inform Family Members About Showings:
Let everyone know when they are taking place so that they can keep their homes tidy.
Perform A Daily Clean:
Keep An Eye Out For Everyday Messes: Like coffee drips on the counter, toothpaste drips in the toilet, and crumbs on your table.
Avoid Strong-Smelling Food:
Make sure you don't make complicated meals and don't eat foods with long-lasting odors.
Make Sure Your Pet's Areas Are Clean
Lighten It:
By opening blinds and curtains to let in natural light and leaving lights on when you leave for a show.
Do Not Hide Pet Food Or Litter:
Not everyone is a cat or dog person. Buyers shouldn't be able to tell that you have a pet.
Regularly Empty Your Trash Cans To Avoid Unpleasant Odors
Adjust The Thermostat To A Comfortable Temperature:
If you work and the heat is turned off, leave it on, so buyers are comfortable while they tour. The same goes for summer: Buyers will stay longer and more comfortable if your house is cool.
Offer Refreshments:
Make your house feel warm and inviting with sweets, cookies, and other treats. Make sure to place a trash can out front so that visitors can pick up their garbage.
Seasonal Ambiance:
An autumn fire in the fireplace or winter hot cocoa is all nice touches.
Ask Your Neighbors For Help:
If you are good friends with your neighbors, it is possible to ask them for their cooperation in keeping their dogs quiet.
Common Mistakes In Showing
Showings are an integral part of a buyer's decision-making process. Therefore, it is important to avoid making common mistakes that could negatively impact how your home is perceived.
You Can Avoid These Home-Showing Pitfalls:
No Showings Allowed:
While showings can be stressful and can be made last-minute, it is in your best interests to be flexible with potential buyers' schedules whenever possible. You might not be available when they request to see your home again. They may look at several homes in one day.
Asking Buyers For Their Shoes To Be Taken Off:
It would make your floors a little cleaner, but it could also cause buyers to feel uncomfortable. You can also leave some disposable booties if you are concerned about wet feet. A good mat should be at your front door.
On Your Own Showing:
Sellers shouldn't be present at showings of their homes as it can cause buyers to feel uncomfortable. Consider using a lockbox to show your home if you are selling your house on your own without an agent. Don't hover if you are a for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) seller. Allow visitors to explore your home on their own and be open to questions.
Too Many Candles And Fragrances:
Many people are allergic or dislike strong scents. Strong scents can cause buyers to think that you are trying to mask bad smells. Try fresh flowers, freshly baked cookies, or coffee instead of candles and other air fresheners. It's better to be subtle than bold.
Giving Feedback Personally:
While it may be difficult to receive criticisms about your home, it can also be very helpful. If a buyer complains about the carpets, they can be cleaned before you show the home again.
Not Decluttering And Depersonalizing:
It's hard for buyers to see the house as their own when it's messy.
Don't Remove Too Much:
However, it's important not to empty your home completely. This is why home staging has become so popular. The Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2018 shows that 48% of buyers consider having their home staged to be very, very, or somewhat important in making a purchase decision. Strategically placing furniture can help buyers define space and show them how they might use it. By leaving beds in bedrooms, buyers can see what kind of furniture they might like. Empty homes are not welcoming and warm.
Safety Precautions In Real Estate
It doesn't matter what type of show you are planning. However, it is important to take safety precautions.
Before You Showing Your Home For Sale
Keep valuables safe.
Secure sensitive financial documents.
Lock up and remove medication.
Make sure the exterior and interior of your home are well lit, especially at night.
Takedown any decorations that include family members' names or pictures, especially children's.
You can get rid of any belongings that you no longer use. This will help you pack and prepare for your move.
During A Home Showing
These safety precautions are important if you are the one who is showing the home, whether it doesn't have lock boxes or you're selling your home on your own.
If you don't have a scheduled event, don't allow people to enter unless it's an open house.
So you don't feel lonely, ask a family member or friend to be your company.
You should keep a log of all visitors to your door, even private tours.
Inform neighbors about open houses or showings.
Trust your instincts -- Red flags include people trying to distract and tour your home while you are away, someone asking you about your personal schedule (e.g., when you're at home or when you're not).
After the tour is over, lock your home.