Listing your house, complete with “for sale” sign in the front yard, is merely a first step in the process. As a seller, you play a key role in the “salability” of your home. For example, if you put little to no effort on maximizing curb appeal or staging your home when buyers are scheduled to come through, you probably won’t get many offers. Some sellers refuse to leave their homes during real estate showings.
This post will explain why that’s a big mistake. In fact, it might be one of the worst things you can do as a seller. All household members (including pets) should vacate the premises when an agent is bringing a prospective buyer to tour the home. An experienced listing agent understands the need for flexibility and will discuss the issue ahead of time with clients.
Buyers’ agents want their clients to imagine themselves living in your home
If you’re lounging around in the family room while a prospective buyer is touring your home, it’s unlikely that he or she will feel comfortable enough to imagine living there. When a seller is present, a buyer feels more like a visitor than a potential owner of the home. Buyers need privacy and space to be able to imagine themselves living in a home. This is one of the top reasons why you should always vacate the premises during real estate showings or an open house.
Sellers and buyers shouldn’t be conversing during real estate showings
Even worse than being present in your home during showings is a seller who tries to engage a prospective buyer in conversation about the house. In fact, this can backfire in a big way. An interested buyer might not feel comfortable asking questions regarding an apparent need for repairs or other issues.
Human beings meeting each other for the first time make impressions on one another. If you and someone touring your home that’s for sale don’t “click,” it can have subliminal implications that ruin your chances of getting offers. A buyer might love the house, but if the two of you didn’t hit it off, he or she might decide to continue the search for a new home elsewhere.
Work with an experienced agent
The best thing you can do when you want to sell your home in South Carolina is to connect with an experienced real estate agent. Your agent can provide valuable information and recommendations to boost your chances of getting offers. There are no rules stating that you are required to follow your agent’s advice, but if your goal is to get the best deal in the least amount of time possible, it’s a good idea to do so.