Checklist for Showing Your Home to Buyers
When a REALTOR wants to show your home to a client, she will contact the Centralized Showing Service. They will, in turn, contact you to confirm the day and time. If the requested appointment is not a good time for you, offer an alternate time that is…but keep it as close to the requested time as possible.
Keep in mind that showing appointments are unpredictable. Most agents will set a window to show your home between, for example, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. This means you should be out of the home by 12:55 and don’t return until 2:45. Due to the day’s showing schedule, the REALTOR and clients may not arrive at the home until 2:15 p.m.—which is why an appointment “window” is set.
Unfortunately, sometimes the REALTOR will have to cancel the appointment at the last minute…or sometimes they don’t show up at all. Remember that this is may be because the clients (potential Buyers) have either changed their mind or already decided on another home.
About 15 to 30 minutes before you need to leave your home for a showing appointment, do the following:
| 1. | Make sure the temperature of the house is comfortable: cool in summer and warm in winter. | |
| 2. | Many people are allergic to certain scents and deodorizers, so don’t spray the air or plug-in air fresheners. | |
| 3. | Open all the window coverings to let in light. | |
| 4. | For windows that show undesirable outdoor scenery, such as a dilapidated fence or a nearby structure that obstructs views, keep blinds partially closed. | |
| 5. | Turn on every light in the house, including closet lights. | |
| 6. | Put animals in crates in a safe, but out-of-the-way place such as a laundry room or garage. Some people are afraid of dogs and/or cats. Cover animal cages if possible…especially reptiles, snakes, and rodents. | |
| 7. | Turn off TV. | |
| 8. | If the house is wired for sound, leave classical music playing but very softly. | |
| 9. | Make sure you leave house brochures on the dining room table or another place pre-determined by your REALTOR. | |
| 10. | Leave the house. Don’t set the alarm unless you have left instructions with your REALTOR or the Centralized Showing Service.
NOTE: If you bump into the REALTOR and Buyer on the way out, be friendly and cordial, but do not stay. |
After an appointment, I will follow-up with the showing agent to obtain feedback for you. This may take a few days, so please be patient. Generally I send weekly reports to keep you up-to-date.
REALTORS DON’T “JUST” SELL HOUSESReal estate agents don’t “just” sell houses; we sell a SERVICE to guide home buyers and sellers through the entire real estate transaction, which usually takes several months. We are more like real estate consultants than we are salespeople. That’s probably why 86 percent of all home buyers and sellers choose to hire a real estate agent when buying or selling a home! Buying or selling a home is not like buying or selling a TV, a computer, or a car. You can’t buy/sell a home in one day…even if the buyer is paying cash. There are MANY legal aspects, deadlines, and requirements that most people are not trained to handle. What’s more…mistakes along the way can cost you thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. The financial risk is much greater than just about anything else you may buy.
Please read the list of my value-added services for home buyers |
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Why You Should Hire Me
Candid Advice—I promise to give you candid advice on all homes and areas so you can make the best decisions. I won’t ignore potential defects that can cost you money, or effect your resale value, in the future…I point them out to you! My job is to protect you from defective homes as much as possible while helping you make a sound financial investment. (Read client testimonials)
Local Area Expertise—This isn’t just my business…it’s where I work and live (for 20 years) so I really know the area. I will help you narrow your options and find the best neighborhood for you based on your specifications. For long-term resale value, the neighborhood you choose is just as important as the home you buy. (Download my Ultimate Sugar Land Guide)
Great Pricing Data—I will give you the most in-depth data you have ever seen…to help you make the wisest decisions. This includes a professional CMA when you are ready to purchase a specific home…so you don’t pay too much. (Also see Pricing a Home Correctly)
Premium Customized Home Searches—Yes, you can search on your own, but no other home search available can filter down to the school level…and filter out the subdivisions that may be known to flood. Tell me exactly what you want, and I can narrow down your options better than any search you have access to. (Request a Premium Customized Home Search)
Video Walkthroughs—If you or your spouse lives out of the state or country, then you will enjoy my detailed video walkthroughs. I have sold multiple homes to out-of-area clients “sight unseen” by providing High Definition video walkthroughs of potential homes. My videos show front and back yards, closets, pantries, laundry rooms, and the garage…as well as the entire home. This gives you a complete picture of the house (unlike those silly Matterports). I also point out any potential defects or deferred maintenance that I see. (view sample video walkthrough)
Easier Process—Moving your family (and possibly changing jobs) is stressful enough. I’m your transaction manager and will guide you, step-by-step, through the process so you never miss an important deadline. I assist with inspections, repair negotiations, home warranties, HOA compliance inspections, hazard insurance, surveys, appraisals, title commitment, home warranties, title company, and more. (Get Details of My Value-Added Services)
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