The Adventure of Showing Homes

Y’all this market is crazy! I have a friend currently preparing a home to sell on the complete other side of the country, and she is seeing the same thing. Homes are going on the market one day at a high list price and selling the next day after multiple offers for well over that already high list price. Because of the chaos, interest rates are rising to adjust the market, making it more difficult to get loans and taking away some of the demand. But that virtual guarantee that you are going to sell your home in, what recently market averages have calculated, less than 30 days, does not give you permission to slack off in the presentation of your most valuable asset.

Since getting my real estate license and showing a few homes, I have seen some things that would make you blush or vomit. In one instance I was showing a home that was currently being rented by a tenant. That is a difficult thing to do. Our laws in NC are very specific about not disturbing tenants. But with proper notification, it is possible. However, after this experience, maybe it shouldn’t be. The home was an absolute wreck. huge stains on the carpet, some liquid substance spilled down the wall, dust 2 inches thick on doors and baseboards, trash and dirty clothes in the floor, but my favorite was the pornographic statues on display atop the bar in the kitchen. Needless to say, we got out of there pretty quick.

I have often wondered if the tenant of that property did it on purpose. Maybe he didn’t want the owner to sell the house. So if he destroyed it no one would buy it. And as a property manager or owner, that has to be a difficult thing to police. But if you are listing the house for sell on the market, it should be your duty to make sure it is showable. I can assure you that I thought worse of the listing agent than I did the owner or the tenant. That is the name you see associated with the property in MLS.

When you place a home on the market, even in this crazy time, you have to take a few steps to prepare. Here’s a list of things to consider before you open your doors to agents and potential buyers:

CLEAN – It may be beneficial to hire a cleaning service to do a thorough job to begin with so you can simply maintain. Consider floors, baseboards, ceilings, windows and doors.
DE-CLUTTER – I don’t believe you need to take all of your personal items out of the home. BUT I firmly think counter tops and tables should be empty. Take a laundry basket and collect everything on top of a surface into the basket. When the showing is over, you can put it all back. Some people are emotional bothered by clutter. Clean and Clear is the safest way to go.
OPEN – Make sure there is a way to get into all of the spaces of the home. If there are outbuildings, they should be accessible either by a key or already unlocked. If there are storage spaces, they should be accessible. It is not a bad idea to leave instructions about how to access those space, either through the showing software or just a little note. Potential buyers want to see storage spaces.
SAFETY – There are stories everyday of real estate agents being put in scary situations. Demand that your listing agent use the appropriate tools to keep people safe. State Real Estate organizations offer showing scheduling software that tracks who is in your home and when. Lock boxes that use Bluetooth technology instead of a four digit combo make sure only agents with the same respect for safety aceess your property while tracking who came and went and when. The dues to these organization and the cost of equipment are not cheap, but if the public demands it, agents and open homes will be safer all around.
WELCOMING – Do something a little above and beyond to welcome your guests. Agents always do crazy, fancy things at open houses, but not during regular showing times. Why not? Putting some brochures and a couple bottles of water on the counter you just cleared as you leave might make a substantial difference in the offers you receive.

I tell potential buyers every day that you have to see a house in person to truly get an understanding of it. It doesn’t matter how much money your agent spends on pictures, videos, brochures, talking houses or advertising. Until a person walks in the space, they will not be able to decide if this is the right home for them.