First Home Showing, HELP!

[TheRatPack]

Okay, I know there was a thread for people who had their homes for sale....but I couldn't find it in recent threads to add to it.

I just had my first agent showing today, where they brought in a client and showed it. I cleaned like a mad woman, took everything of value with us and stayed away for 30-45 minutes(had a neighbor call when they left).

When I came back I did a quick walk through and noticed a few things that were moved, changed, open....etc and wanted to know how you handle these situations.

1)They blew out my candles. The candles all had shades on them and they were all placed so they wouldn't catch anything on fire. Do you think that realtors all do this? Maybe I should just burn them up until I leave and then blow them out? But then you get that stinky smoke smell.

2)They opened all our closets, which of course I was expecting but one of my check containers (I keep all my cancelled checks and blanks in a rubbermaid container) was opened as well. I'm pretty sure I didn't leave it open....now I'm nervous about that. Those containers went straight in to my van when I noticed them open, they won't be coming back in this house while we're on the market.

Anyhow, there were a lot of little things that I'm fine with like cutting out all my lights and shutting all the doors, pouring coffee in the sink and not rinsing it down....etc but why the candles? And now I have to check my checking account every day for the next year to make sure no checks are being written....we never write checks.

Uggh, why is it so nerve wrecking LOL And right when I got home we had another call for a later evening showing. So out we go again.....guess I need to take my bill file with me and put a password on my computer system just in case.

Yea I know I'm paranoid LOL

 

[ashjohnson80]

I think they probably blew out the candles because they weren't sure when you would be back, when I was looking at houses I saw realtors do this when we left.

 

[CathrynRose]

Pouring your coffee out? Weird...

I'd be paranoid and nervous too. I think it's okay though. I dont think the realtor would let someone rummage through things.

I do wonder (and get mad) when I watch House Hunters and shows such as it, when the "lookers" lay down on someones bad, or sit on their couch, Im thinking...GET UP! Thats not yours!!! I'd be ticked if someone sprawled out on my bed.... or climbed in my bathtub...

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I agree on the candle thing...it's really unsafe to leave candles burning in a house unattended.

Chances are that either you left the box opened for the checks or that the person looking had a child that might have gotten into them. I think it's okay.

Don't worry. Your bank probably has safeguards against id theft. It sounds like you were in great shape for the showing!

 

[TheRatPack]

LOL on the bed thing. In our extra room we just have a box spring and it's 'made' up with a nice comforter and pillows etc. I dare someone to 'plop' down on that OUCH!

 

[grinningghost]

I can relate. We had our first open house a week ago (we sold our house right after it - yay!) and I also had a candle burning when I left the house. A nice apple pie candle to give the house a "homey" scent (like they tell you in all the "sell your house" books).

I came back and it was blown out. I guess the realtor didn't care for the scent or else he was afraid the house would burn down.

Good luck - hope your house sells quick - it sure makes life less stressful!

 

[RadioNate]

I'd be thrilled they blew out the candles. In a 'safe' area or not that is a good way to burn your house down!

Be preparied for lights left on or everything turned off. Doors you had open they will close and leave your closed doors open.

And I'd shread the canceled checks. I don't even get canceled checks anymore. Haven't in years. Doesn't your bank just keep electronic copies of the checks? As for extras, I generally have only one box of checks at a time which is small enough to put into a dresser or other location where people would be very unlikely to look in.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

I agree with the posters that said the realtor probably blew out the candles for safety's sake. For all they know, you're gone for the day. As far as things being moved around and stuff, it's kind of par for the course when you're selling. I did notice when my last house was being sold the realtor would often get there a few minutes before the client and do things like open shades and stuff to make sure it was looking good.

I wouldn't worry about the checks. Chances are it was a kid or even knocked around a bit when they were looking in the closet.

When we sold our first house I sold it myself (no realtor) and people would do the weirdest things. I had one woman even turn the shower on and practically get in it!! I was like lady, do you think we live here with no shower?! Hello?!! I could see if she had made an offer but she was just being nosy. ANd BTW, the people who ended up buying that house did not come when the house was all dolled up for showing but just were driving by one evening, saw the sign and knocked on the door. We showed them our somewhat-untidy-with-baby-stuff-everywhere house and they bought it...so you never know!!!!! Good luck!

 

[mtemm]

omg, my first thoughts were never leave your house with candles burning, even if you have shades on them. Not to mention I would skip it altogether...our realtors have told us about 50% of people can't stand the smell of them and honestly the smell tends to send me right out of a house quickly.

The check thing is very odd and I would be concerned, unless there is a chance you left it open and are mistaken.

 

[Dodie]

I agree on the candle thing...it's really unsafe to leave candles burning in a house unattended.

Exactly!!!!!!

 

[LoriKay]

Whenever we've done a house viewing where there are candles burning I always wonder what smells the owners are trying to cover up.

 

[sharbear]

I have allergies and some candles make my allergies go crazy. I would blow them out if I was having an allergy attack. My sister has asthma and a severe reaction to scents, the candles would drive her crazy too. Just a thought.

 

[mtemm]

Whenever we've done a house viewing where there are candles burning I always wonder what smells the owners are trying to cover up.

same here...anytime I smell scented candles or (gag) air fresheners, it makes the house feel dirty to me. I know some people just like these things but I can't help it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would say candles are bad as well. I don't like them burning when I am viewing a house. It makes me think they are trying to hide something.

DH gets headaches from candles and perfumes.

 

[TheRatPack]

Wow, where were all the candle haters when they wrote all those how to sell your home books? Even our realtors paperwork says to have soft music playing, bake cookies or a light scented candle and the one that really seemed strange to me was to put your stove eye on high and drop a little vanilla on it LOL

I'll blow the candles out and leave them out then.....I really just lit them for the showings anyway. Our house always smells clean since we decluttered and are keeping it in show condition.....so again candles aren't necessary just figured they were part of the process.

Thanks for all the input and replies We have another showing this evening

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Wow, where were all the candle haters when they wrote all those how to sell your home books? Even our realtors paperwork says to have soft music playing, bake cookies or a light scented candle and the one that really seemed strange to me was to put your stove eye on high and drop a little vanilla on it LOL

All that is bunk. When people are seriously looking all they want to smell is CLEAN. No cookies, candles, nothing.

You want people coming away with the idea of your house, not how it smelled. Leave that out.

 

[C.Ann]

I'm curious why you even left the house.. Unless it's an Open House, not one single realtor has suggested that my DD, her DH, my DGD & I leave the house when they're only showing it to one couple.. As a matter of fact, several of the realtors that have shown the house while we're here were happy that they and their clients could ask a number of questions that would have gone unanswered otherwise..

I also agree about leaving candles burning when you're not there.. It's just not safe.. If you want the house to smell "clean" or "good" maybe you could invest in some of those plug-in air freshners with a nice scent and place them in outlets that aren't clearly visible..

I'm sure my DD and her family will be very happy when this house is sold because I'm in "drill sargeant" mode - constantly walking around behind them reminding them to put this away, don't leave that there, etc.. LOL You just never know when that call is going to come though and a realtor wants to show the house in a half-hour.. Much easier to say yes to those calls if things are kept up on a continuous basis..

Good luck on the sale of your home! Have you already found a new home?

 

[mtemm]

we always leave the house when we've had showings, and honestly I hate it when I am looking for a home and the owners are there. I tend to rush if they are there and feel very uncomfortable. thankfully usually owners are not there. to me it does make a difference. if I have questions, I have my realtor find out.

and to me air fresheners are as bad as candles. If you want your house to smell clean, just clean it. that's all that should be needed.

good luck!

 

[Bunchkin]

Last year when we were selling our house I burned candles before the showing and then blew them out before we left.

And we NEVER stayed for a showing, and you shouldn't stay. People feel uncomfortable to speak their minds in the owners are standing near by within ear shot.

Declutter is the most inportant thing you can do for a showing. I had read a really good book about decluttering and the postioning of eye catching items to make you home more appealing to the prospective buying. It really paid off.
Remember to put away most of the family photos. A person has a hard time visualizing themselves in a home that is covered in photos of another family. Declutter the kitchen- countertops to cabinets, organize pantrys and cabinets. Pack up what you don't need. We did this in every room and closets too. It not only helps your home look neater and bigger, but it gives you a jump start on the packing process.
I could go on and on with ideas. My realtor, and family and friends, said I should go into business doing this because our house looked perfect. We were the second highest selling home in our subdivision!! So it really all does pay off!!

 

[DVCLiz]

This might be a regional thing, C. Ann, because no realtor showing a house in my community would let the owners be there. It's just not done that way. And I wouldn't have wanted owners there when I was looking for my house. I wanted to feel free to be critical, to talk about what I would or could change, etc and I'd never have done that with the owners present. Also, I was looking in familiar neighborhoods, and in some cases I knew who my neighbors would be, so that sometimes colored my judgement of a house, and I felt free to discuss that with my realtor on the spot. I wouldn't have done that in front of owners, either!!

Any questions I had were asked by my realtor - just the way real-estate business is done in my town.