First Home Showing, HELP!

[DisneyForLife]

I just sold my house last week here in Mass. and we were never home for a showing. The realtors here would rather have you leave so their buyers will feel more comfortable looking. I know I was more at ease looking at homes without the owners being there.
Now for packing, fun

 

[CarolA]

Well for those of your buring the candles... Ask the realtor if they will pay your deductible when the house burns down???? There was an apartment fire near me recently caused by a CANDLE. Woman said she always left it buring since "it's in a safe place" Tell her neighbors who are homeless that.

Also, having bought and sold a few homes I do NOT want you there when I tour. It would make me want to get out of there quick and pretty much put you out of the running since I didn't give your house a fair viewing.

 

[SC Minnie]

When we sold our house my MIL was visiting. She didn't have car so when we had a showing she would walk around the neighborhood or sit in the big swing at the end of the backyard. She was also good about making sure the blinds were open and the house picked up. Several times she had dinner cooking in a crockpot when the people came in. They must not have had a problem with it because we had 3 offers within 3 days of putting it on the market.

 

[T1130]

Years ago when we were looking at houses the realtor would tell us to open the closets. I would always feel funny opening peoples closets.

My uncle is a realtor and he says to bake chocolate chip cookies, so that smell is in the house.
Good luck selling your house.

 

[EthansMom]

In lieu of candles, we've always used a few of the vanilla-scented plug-in air fresheners placed throughout the house. Smells like baking food without any danger of fire. And you don't have to do the work of actually baking anything.

We also open all blinds/curtains and/or turn on all lights so that the house looks as large and open as possible.

When I'm looking at the inside of a house, a house that is clean, decluttered and well-maintained has a better impact on me than anything else.

We've always tried to leave when someone was coming for a showing. With our last house, we had two young children and rather than deal with showing while we were in town, we cleaned the house and took the kids on vacation for a week. We'd let the realtor know ahead of time so that she could get as many people through the house as possible and we had the house priced appropriately to sell quickly. We had an acceptable contract ready to sign when we got home. I highly recommend this tactic to anyone with kids.

I have no idea why anyone would have gone through the OPs papers or emptied the coffee pot. Personally, I always put personal papers, jewelry, etc. in a lock box when the house is being shown.

Good luck with selling your house! I hope it sells quickly.

 

[C.Ann]

We just had another showing today - and ironically, my granddaughter was home from school because she had been vomiting all night.. The people couldn't reschedule because they were from out of town and thanked us profusely for allowing them to come anyhow.. We made a point of not being in the same room that they were in at any given time until they came out and started asking questions (and believe me, they had a LOT of them - LOL).. Many of the questions were things a non-listing realtor wouldn't have a clue about - something we have found to be the case often during the showings we've had while we're here.. Of course we are never here for the Open Houses and if a couple makes an appointment to see the house for a second time (which indicates a more serious interest), we pack up and leave - 2 cats and a dog included!!

The house my DD and her DH have already purchased was also shown while the owners were home - and there were appointments back to back all day the first day it was listed.. DD's in-law's are also looking for a new home now (they want to be closer to where we'll be going) and every home they have looked at so far (excluding Open Houses) have had at least one resident at home..

Maybe it is a regional thing - I don't know - but I do know that a couple of years ago when my DD and her DH were looking for another house it was the same thing - someone was there - unless it was an Open House..

My house was empty - because I had already moved out - so you all would have loved looking at that house! LOL

 

[DVCLiz]

C. Ann, just curious - what kinds of questions do they ask?

 

[C.Ann]

C. Ann, just curious - what kinds of questions do they ask?

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A LOT of questions about the inground pool; questions about the exposed beams in the family room; questions about the kitchen floor tile and where it was purchased (it's a unique pattern that matches one of the overhead lights in the kitchen); questions about the neighbors on either side and in back; questions about where to purchase additional parts for the woodstove in the family room (DD and her DH never used it); the brand name of the kitchen cabinets and where they were purchased should they want to add more; and a whole slew of other things.. Some of this information DD and DH's realtor would have - some he would not - and obviously any non-listing realtor that comes through wouldn't know any of these things..
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Oh - and one other thing I forgot to add.. The non-listing realtors always, always, ALWAYS forget to tell the prospective buyers that if they have children, the bus stops right in front of the house!!