Even though the inventory of homes for sale is the lowest in years, and even though there are not enough homes available in most price ranges, sellers still need to put their best foot forward when showing their homes.
While the following advice may seem obvious, it’snot obvious to all sellers.
How do I know? Because these are all things I’ve actually witnessed in the last few weeks as I’ve been out looking for houses for my buyers.
Pets:Don’t leave your dogs in the backyard without letting people know if it’s ok to go out there.Alsolet agents and home shoppers know what to do if the dogs accidentally get back in the house.
Leaving instructions on how to handle the dogs on the door to the backyard would be a great idea. If your dogs are friendly, leave their leashes near the door and suggest that if buyers want to see the yard, they might secure the dogs first.
If your dogs are not friendly and potentially dangerous, please warn people very clearly at all points of entry to the yard, garage, bedroom, bathroom, laundry room, or any other place you may have secured the dogs before the buyers arrive. Warn them: Do not to enter the room due tounfriendlydog(s).
This is for your protection and the buyers’ safety.
If your dogs are friendly, and you’re fine having buyers check out the backyard, please pick up after your dogs as frequently as possible. Stepping in a gift from one of your dogs, recently deposited in the yard, will not leave a happy memory of your home for the potential buyer.
Helicopter Sellers:Don’t stay in the house when buyers come to have a look. Cease folding clothes, gather up your mother-in-law, who’s been quietly reading on the couch, your daughter who’s doing her homework at the kitchen table, your husband who’s raking leaves in the backyard and the dogs, and leave the house — all of you.
Your presence puts a palpable damper on the buyers’ reaction to your house. They cannot talk freely. They feel like creepers looking through your things. They feel like they are invading your space.
Instead, take the dogs and the family for a walk nice walk up the street. Let the buyers have some privacy as they see if your house is a fit for their needs.
Lights:Do turn on the lights when buyers are expected, in all the bedrooms and bathrooms, in the kitchen and living areas, and even in the garage.
Brightness is usually associated with cheerfulness, and it also helps make your home look larger.
Doors:Do leave the doors to all the bedrooms and bathrooms open when you are expecting buyers, except that room where you’ve stashed the dangerous dog. Leave that door closed with a large sign declaring in large, legible letters “Do Not Enter – Dangerous Dog Inside.”
If you break all the rules, have your dogs running loose, your mother-in-law quietly reading on the couch, your daughter doing homework at the kitchen table, and your husband raking the grass in the backyard when the buyers arrive, at least turn on the lights.
Contributing columnistLeslieSargentEskildsenis an agent with Realty One Group. She can be reached at949-678-3373or @leslieeskildsen.
