We can’t talk about the home if the owner is following us around. “Why are they following me“. This is what my clients tell me when I’m showing them a house and the owner is home. The consensus among home buyers is that they would prefer to see a home when it’s either vacant or no one is home.
I’m one of those real estate agents that when I show a home to a client I like to either preview the home by myself before I take my buyers or if I have not seen the home already, I let my clients walk around by themselves and I wait in some other part of the house. I preview home first to make sure that, based on what my clients have requested, that the house meets their minimum criteria. I don’t like to follow buyers around simply because I’m pretty sure they already know what a bathroom and a kitchen looks like. They don’t need me to point out the crown molding and hardwood floors, or do they? I also figured that if they have any questions, they’ll feel comfortable enough to ask me. And the end of their preview, I make sure I ask them their opinion of the house. This will help me narrow down their criteria in future previews.
Now, if the owner happens to be home during a showing, I find that buyers get a little uneasy. They’re tip-toeing around and they seem to automatically start whispering. It’s a universal trait in buyers. Buyers don’t like when the sellers are present, let alone when sellers are doing the showing or following them around. Buyers can’t pay attention to the home’s details if someone is hovering over them and talking about everything they’ve done to the house. It’s distracting and a sure way to lose a buyer.
Home buyers like to talk freely, negatively or positively, about the home. They like to discuss what they would do with the home, either with whom ever they brought with them or with their agent. If they like the house, buyers like to see certain areas more than once. The like to look in closets; they like to open doors, they like to turn on lights and they don’t feel comfortable doing that if the home owners are present.
My advice to sellers: don’t be present for showings. At least for the first showing anyway. There’s nothing you’re going to point out or say that will positively influence the buyer. Unless you’re giving the house away for free. In fact, being present for a showing could do more harm than good. Buyers will typically not stay as long in a house when the sellers are present-missing out or disregarding some of the great features your home has to offer. As an agent, I noticed that buyers seem to rush through the preview out of respect for your time. Buyers feel like they’re interrupting your schedule and they leave in a hurry. And on to the next house…”hopefully no the owners are not home“, the buyers exclaimed.
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Michael, great point and it is a scary thought, I agree. In my experience, and I can only speak from my personal experience, buyers prefer not to have the owner at home when they’re previewing a home. Oddly enough the mindset of the buyer changes completely after they’ve expressed interest in the home. At that point, they have more questions–and who better to answer them than the homeowners. I would say initially don’t be home, but perhaps on the second showing. But for the most part I think it does more harm than good. Case and point, I was showing a house to a Caribbean couple in a well-to-do area of Westchester and the homeowner was home. During a one of many unsolicited conversations, the owner, who happened to be Caucasian, said that this town is “very liberal”. I’m not the quickest person in the world, but it occurred to me later why the buyers left in a hurry. The owner seemed like she really wanted to sell, but I think she failed to adapt and be objective.
Ever think that maybe sellers are better advocates for their home than agents are? And that most agents showing homes are seeing it for the first time, and that they’re really not trying to sell from a position of knowledge, and are just winging it. Sellers have a lot at stake and risk when selling their homes, and the thought of leaving it in the hands of an agent who they know nothing about, and who has his own agenda, is a scary thought. I feel bad for sellers…just look at the vast majority of who they’re dealing with.
Eddy, same thing during a home inspection. the owner should not be home. homeowners usually start downplaying everything the inspector finds.
Mark… i think it falls under the same category as don’t leave your pets lose in the house when buyers are previewing the home. Not everyone is a dog or cat lover and the last thing the buyers want to deal with is whether or not the pet is licking them or worse running out the house.
I am glad I am not the only agent that feels the home owner should not be present when the property is being shown. I have seen it make the potential buyers uncomfortable and want to just leave. Instead of remembering things they like about the home, they just remember feeling uncomfortable.
So true!!!! I hate when the seller is there. It definitely doesn’t help us as buyers! That’s something that a seller’s agent should stress to the seller. Get your ass out the house! lol