Do you want to sell your house in this buyers market? Try getting lost!
I enjoy furniture shopping! In fact, while browsing in a furniture store the other day something enlightened me as to why some home sellers seriously annoy prospective buyers thereby possibly delaying the sale of their home in this buyers market. Here is my story and please read to the end so that you will understand how to sell your home without frustrating your potential buyer and then perhaps delaying the sale of your house.
Last week was very full for me in the Real Estate business. Please know this isn't a complaint because I thoroughly enjoy Real Estate, but I felt I needed to do something out of the norm just for a few minutes and simply take a break for me. I observed a furniture store I hadn't been in before. It was in a prime location within an attractive shopping center. The store was housed in a beautiful building and possessed an easy to maneuver parking lot. The entrance was very appealing! I guess we could say, "This store had great curb appeal". I pulled in, got out of the car and went inside. I no sooner walked in the door and a salesman came running up to me in an effort to beat all of the other visible sales staff and put his card in my hand. I explained, "I'm just browsing, I do not intend to buy today, I am only looking around!" He said, "No problem" and so I proceeded to walk thru the store.
There was a problem though and it was huge in my eyes. Everywhere I walked in that store this salesman was one step behind me. Every sofa I sat on; every table that I examined for quality (you guessed it I use to be in the furniture business); every chair I wanted to try out, this salesman was there! I felt I couldn't breathe without him telling me how. I became so annoyed that I politely excused myself long before I really needed to go and then left, and have pretty much made a decision never to go back.
I'm only guessing, but I bet the above scenario wouldn't really put you in the buying mood either. In fact, you've probably had a similar experience and can relate to how it feels. Remember I said, "Something enlightened me in the furniture store about sellers endeavoring to sell their house?" Here it is.....
Your house can have excellent curb appeal, just like the store above. It can have all of the right positives working for it! Please remember though, if you are home when your house is being shown, it can be just as uncomfortable for your prospective buyers exploring your house when they feel they are being watched and you the home sellers are breathing down their neck as it would be for you or for me in the furniture store. Making buyers feel comfortable when looking for a home is absolutely essential. Buyers tend to have little interest in asking you questions about your property because they somehow know the answers you provide will certainly be biased at least to some extent! This is why you have hired a real estate agent to represent you thru the selling process. Who better than your agent to be the spokesperson for your home?
My suggestion is simple: Make your house ready to show; bake some chocolate chip cookies for your guests to enjoy and leave a note on your counter top thanking the guests for touring your home. Then, get lost when your house is being shown and allow your Realtor® to do his/her job. You might just speed up the process of selling your house and then you will be glad you followed my advice.
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