Homeowners often ask the question if a seller should be present during a buyer agent home showing. And, the consensus answer is typically “no.” Although the homeowner is intimately familiar with the property, there is just more downside to having a seller stay during a buyer’s agent home showing.
Should a Seller be Present during a Buyer’s Agent Home Showing?
The majority of real estate professionals will tell you home sellers make a number of mistakes. From leaving personal items and effects in plain view, to odd home improvements, to leaving clutter everywhere, sellers commit missteps that prevent them from achieving their ultimate goal. Part of the reason is they just don’t think about their house as a marketable property, they regard it deeply as their home. Complacency is also another reason, being use to a routine.
If you as a seller feel that you are simply bursting at the seams to blurt all to strangers about your home, save it for your listing agent. Your agent needs to know about the defects as well as the upgrades and special features. The reason you probably decided to hire a real estate agent to sell your home is because you expect to rely on your agent’s specialized knowledge to advise, market, advertise and produce a buyer. —The Balance.com
Most of the reasons are unintentional, like doing things which devalue a home. Among these are converting a room for an entirely different use, mediocre renovations, not performing regular maintenance, and installing less desirable amenities. All of these turn potential buyers off. Homeowners do such things because they do not think long-term and the possibility of resale. So, when it does come time to sell, there’s a lot of work to be done. Getting a home ready for sale is a big task and all your hard work should not be undone. Here are some reasons sellers should not be present during a buyer agent home showing:
- You’re intruding on the buyer’s privacy. Although this is counterintuitive, it’s true and it creates an unnecessary awkwardness. Think about it this way, if you were walking through a home, you’d probably like to speak with your agent freely about its pros and cons.
- You will make them feel uncomfortable. Even if you resist the urge to follow the buyer from room to room (which is too difficult for most sellers to overcome), you’ll still be present. And your presence alone is enough to make the buyer feel uncomfortable, even make the buyer feel rushed.
- You can easily make counterproductive statements. All that creative and hard work you did over the years sure paid off. Your home improvements made it more stylish and functional. As you tell the buyer about it, he or she will probably wonder about the quality — particularly if you aren’t a licensed contractor.
- You might feel the urge to open up about your history. You might believe staying is a good idea because you can answer any questions. While that’s certainly true, it’s where it will take you that really matters. You could stroll down memory lane right in front of buyer and that’s going to be a turnoff. Even if you don’t get emotional, you might create an awkward situation.
- You might be tempted to close the deal right then and there. Some homeowners act on their intent to sell and the urge to hard sell overwhelms. After all, you have plans to move onto the next chapter of your life and this is the only thing that’s holding you back. But pushing the sale will likely do more harm than good.
If you are considering selling your home in Orlando’s Hunter’s Creek, or another community, contact us for the latest market information. We will help get your property ready for sale and create an effective selling strategy.