STAY OR GO? WHY STAYING FOR A VIEWING IS A BAD IDEA

Selling a property is never easy. Subtle details – from mismatched scatter cushions, to an unswept kitchen – can spell the difference between a potential buyer making an offer, or scratching your property off their list altogether. As much as you would love to be around to hear the passing comments as buyers amble through your abode, by choosing to remain at home during a showing, you set yourself at risk of becoming exactly that “subtle detail” that gets in the way of an offer.

Yes, leaving your home every time an agent brings a buyer around can be a nuisance. After all, where are you supposed to go? But, the minor inconvenience of having to leave your house during a showing (the smart sellers will see it as an opportunity to get out more often) is better than the great inconvenience of having your house remain on the market indefinitely.

Still not convinced? Below are some of the top reasons why staying at home for a viewing is a bad idea:

Invading your space
The problem with remaining at home during a viewing is that you inhibit potential buyers from conducting a thorough inspection of your home. Buyers need time to picture how their furniture will fit into the various areas, to open cupboards and explore the storage space, and to revisit rooms to get a better feeling for the home – none of which they feel comfortable to do when they think the homeowner could be lurking behind the next corner, or sat frustratingly in the lounge eagerly anticipating their departure so they can get back to their Netflix episode.

That pesky fly on the wall…
Apart from rushing the viewing, having the seller around also prevents open dialogue between the buyer and the estate agent. Buyers often feel too shy or polite to ask their agent any questions that might insult the homeowner if they think they might be within earshot. Many of the buyer’s apprehensions could be resolved easily if only the issues had received the space to be voiced and responded to.       

Eager Beavers loses the sale
Many sellers also choose to hang around during a showing so that they can step in if they overhear a question being asked that their estate agent cannot answer. The problem is that this can often create the impression that the seller is desperate for the sale – a position no seller wants to find themselves in.

Foot-in-Mouth Syndrome
Estate agents know how to market your house, and know what topics are better avoided. On the other hand, homeowners often are not aware of the implications of their words. In a worst case scenario, homeowners have even been known to accidentally let slip the minimum offer they would be willing to accept, which leads to a lower selling price than what could have been arranged through the agent.

Playing the royal guard
Many homeowners also do not trust the agent to look after their home and their possessions in the same way that they would, and choose to remain in the house in order to ensure that no items mysteriously disappear during the viewing. This is most often an unwarranted concern, as a responsible agent will advise homeowners to place any valuable possessions out of eye sight before a viewing, and will be sure to keep an eye on the buyers as they walk through the property.

The fact remains that the majority of buyers feel uncomfortable when a seller is at home during a viewing. So, why not take the opportunity to go out and experience life a bit more than you usually would? Take the kids down to the park or treat your significant other to a romantic dinner all while your agent is at work on selling your home.