Many people ask for advice on how to sell their houses. There is good standard advice … You can hire a professional organizer to bring your home to model home level. You can re-tile your bathroom or install granite in your kitchen for a little more upgrade than what is being sold on the street. You can do all kinds of things at the presentation level. One thing that I think most people overlook is making their home accessible and making the display experience enjoyable.
First, try to invite everyone to visit the house. It is definitely inconvenient for people to be frolicking in their daily life, but unfortunately it is part of selling a home. When someone calls to see the house, say something like, “Sure, we were heading to the park, so feel free to look around.” You basically just want them to feel like they don’t bother you. This only helps to create a cozy atmosphere in the home rather than starting the display with a feeling of intrusion.
It is another thing to try to leave when the house is shown to potential buyers. Buyers just don’t feel comfortable if someone is there, and they usually rush through the house without wasting time looking at where their furniture will go or how big the cabinets are. Also, if you have dogs or animals that could be distracting during the display experience (i.e. barking or jumping), try taking them with you, or if you’re at work, keep them in the backyard. Basically let the Buyer focus on your home.
Also, do not take a personal tour of your home. It’s hard to resist as you know more about your home and want to share it with potential buyers, but when it comes down to it, you want people to daydream that the overall home is yours, not focus on the sink taps. You want people to take an interest in your home on a personal level, thinking about how they will develop in your daily life in your home rather than noticing every detail. Notice every detail will come later.
Also, ask your listing agent to list your home with the easiest-to-display directions to make your home accessible without much effort. Sellers will sometimes need to make appointments due to certain situations, such as the elderly or newborns. But if possible, ask buyers to call or leave a message and head to the house. Our MLS system calls it “Call First – Go”. This makes it possible for anyone to come, even if they were just driving past and admiring the house. It may not get a lot of attention, but it allows these sudden interest people to come in, and the more people that come in, the more opportunities to sell it.
Speaking of short notice, try to keep your home as clean as possible at all times. Many buyers will say they can imagine past a mess, but most can’t. Messy houses end up distracting attention from what the house offers. It’s definitely hard to maintain the look of a model home while trying to live in it, but it does help sell the home. And if you keep it constantly clean, when a Buyer ends up wanting to come in on short notice, you’re good to go.
Also, don’t use combo locks, if possible. Calling to request the combination is an additional step that can prevent it from being displayed if the person with the combo is not available. Most MLS systems have electronic safe deposit boxes available, which are easy to access and have the added benefit of logging in at every agent that comes along. Of course, if electronic safes are not available in your area, combination locks are a good alternative to trying to make appointments.
The last thing is to never say no to someone who requests a visit. It can definitely be difficult to prepare when someone wants to see your home, especially when they have short notice. Again, this is where it helps to be prepared and orderly at all times. Have a plan of action ready, especially if you have children or animals. Many people choose to walk their dog because it is a quick outing and allows Buyers a little time in the house to look around.
In short, you want as many people looking at your home as possible and the display experience to be as comfortable as possible for Buyers. So try to make access to the sample as easy as possible and keep distractions (such as animals, clutter, and even yourself) to a minimum.