| When buyers make an appointment to see your | | | | country club, golf course, etc. Answer their |
| home they have already made several important | | | | questions early. Remember, prospective |
| decisions. They have selected your neighborhood | | | | homeowners are choosing a home and |
| as a possible location. Your lot and exterior style | | | | community - a lifestyle.4. Don't Hang AroundDo |
| appeals to them. Your price is within their range. If | | | | not be present for the showing. Sit outside or run |
| the floor plan and interior style works for them, | | | | an errand. When you are there, buyers may feel |
| and if the buyers feel a sense of trust in your | | | | that they are intruding. They will not discuss |
| home, they will move to the contract stage. Here | | | | changes they might make to your home, or how |
| are some tips to help you make the most of this | | | | they would use the space. This could limit the |
| important step in the sale of your home - the | | | | time spent in your home. Never take over the |
| showing.1. Setting Showing AppointmentsHomes | | | | showing or attempt to sell your house. You do |
| may be shown by appointment with the Realtor, | | | | not know the buyer's special interests, and may |
| appointment with the owner, or by using the | | | | inadvertently turn them off. Remember that this |
| house key placed in a lockbox. The lockbox is a | | | | not a social visit. Buyers need to make an |
| popular system in many areas, and facilitates | | | | emotional commitment to your home. They |
| showings by all members of the local Multiple | | | | usually need some quiet time to experience your |
| Listing Board. To arrange a showing, agents must | | | | home and sense how they would enjoy living |
| first call your home or cell number. If you do not | | | | there. Your presence is distracting and inhibiting to |
| answer, they may leave a message, and proceed | | | | potential buyers.5. Appeal to Buyers With Sights, |
| with the showing. Most lockboxes record the | | | | Sounds and ScentsPeople gather impressions |
| agent's identity and time of showing. Whether | | | | about your house from all senses - sight, sound |
| your home is shown by special appointment or by | | | | and smell. Improve your home's appeal to all |
| the lockbox system, the objective is to make | | | | senses. Leave blinds open, and consider removing |
| your home easy to show to potential buyers. This | | | | some screens. Natural light sells houses! Increase |
| is your first contact with the buyer, and you | | | | the sizes of your bulbs if the light is dim in certain |
| should make them feel welcome in your | | | | areas. Put on some instrumental music, but keep |
| home.When you receive a call from a Realtor for | | | | it very low and mellow. Do not leave televisions |
| a showing, keep in mind that he/she is showing | | | | on. Have the temperature cool in summer and |
| lots of homes, and it is difficult to set precise | | | | warm in winter. Use pleasant scents, such as |
| times. Be flexible on the timing, and allow a | | | | candles or potpourri. An unpleasant odor will have |
| window of one hour for arrival, if possible. If you | | | | a very negative impact on a buyer's reaction to |
| are going to be at home, you may ask the | | | | your home. In particular, cigarettes and pet odors |
| Realtor to alert you when they are 15 minutes | | | | are a turn-off. Do not try to mask an unpleasant |
| away. You may occasionally receive a last minute | | | | smell with another smell. Work toward a clean, |
| call, with the visitors already in your driveway. If | | | | fresh smell.6. Have a Safe ShowingKeep in mind |
| you are prepared for a showing, invite them to | | | | that the public will be entering your home, and |
| come in. If you are not ready, let the Realtor | | | | consider their safety and yours. Do you have |
| know that you need some time to prepare. | | | | rugs, wires or small toys that could be stumbled |
| Always thank Realtors for trying to show your | | | | over? Buyers should be able to move easily from |
| home. You need them to come back!2. Consider | | | | room to room. You may need to remove some |
| Children & PetsIf you have children it is very | | | | furniture to keep traffic patterns open. Leave |
| important to educate them on the showing | | | | your stairs completely free of clutter. Replace any |
| procedure. They should know that real estate | | | | missing handrails. Remove valuable objects from |
| agents will be calling for appointments to show | | | | tables where they may be accidentally bumped. If |
| their home, and they should know how to | | | | you use candles for a nice scent, do not leave |
| respond. If they are at home by themselves | | | | them burning when you leave the house. Do not |
| during the day, they will need to let in the agent | | | | leave money, guns, medicines, jewelry, x rated |
| and buyers, and vacate the house during the | | | | magazines or any personal items in public view. |
| showing. They may wait in the backyard or go to | | | | Consider your security, and the buyer's safety as |
| a neighbor's house. Televisions and video games | | | | you prepare your home for viewing.7. Set the |
| should be turned off. Hopefully, they will know | | | | StageConsider using a staging service to help you |
| how to tidy up the kitchen. Children must know | | | | present your home. It should be perfectly clean |
| that an advance phone call by the agent is | | | | and clutter free. Homes generally look better with |
| required for a showing. They must not allow | | | | furniture, but they must not appear crowded. |
| entry to anyone who comes to the door without | | | | Your furniture and accessories should give your |
| an agent.Pets pose special problems for showings. | | | | home a very general appeal. Avoid strong political, |
| If pets are left in the home during the day, leave | | | | personal or artistic statements. The focal point |
| a note alerting the agents that a pet is in the | | | | should be the house, rather than your family. Use |
| house. Give instructions as to how your pets | | | | decorative objects, such as pillows, framed |
| should be handled. For example, "Cat must not be | | | | photographs, books, fresh towels and flowers. |
| allowed outdoors." Often pets are fearful or | | | | Create a mood with natural and lamp lighting and |
| uncertain about strangers entering the house | | | | soft music. The goal is to make potential buyers |
| when you are not home. Many people are afraid | | | | feel that they could move right in. Home buying is |
| of (or allergic to) pets, and are not happy to | | | | an emotional process. You must build a sense of |
| encounter them in the house. It would be best to | | | | trust and attachment to your home during the |
| crate your pets during showings, place them in a | | | | short time that buyers are in your home. They |
| restricted area, such as the laundry room, or take | | | | must positively imagine themselves enjoying your |
| them out of the house. Keep in mind that a great | | | | home and gardens.Showing your home is an |
| variety of people may enter your home, including | | | | important part of the sales process. You only |
| children. If there is any uncertainty as to how | | | | have a short time to gain the buyer's interest in |
| your pets will react to strangers, you should | | | | your home. Their time in your home should be |
| remove them from your home during showings.3. | | | | handled with care and respect for their time. Each |
| Provide Lots of InformationHave brochures laid | | | | showing is important. Remember, you only need |
| out on a table for prospective buyers. Anticipate | | | | one buyer, but you don't know which one.Roselind |
| the information that would interest your buyers. | | | | Hejl is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker United in |
| Examples are: a copy of your survey or floor | | | | Austin, Texas. Her website - - offers homes for |
| plan, photos of neighborhood amenities, school | | | | sale, market trends, buyer and seller guides. |
| information, neighborhood newsletter, nearby | | | | |