THE HOME BUYING & SELLING PROCESS - SHOWINGS AND TOURS

Showing and touring homes for sale is a key part of the home buying and selling process. Rarely are homes bought without seeing it. Buyer’s certainly want to know as much about this very expensive purchase and Seller’s want to attract serious buyers.

As a Seller, the best way to get buyers to make an offer is to show them your home. Showing your home will require you to coordinate with your agent and the Buyer’s agent. You’ll want to be flexible and ready to leave your home temporarily while the showing takes place.

Your home should be maintained in the staging condition once it is prepared for sale. Be prepared for a quick clean up and walk through to make sure it is ready to show at a moment’s notice. Remember that this could be your one chance to impress a Buyer enough for them to make an offer.

Curb appeal is critical to attracting buyers. You may want to increase the frequency of lawn and garden maintenance. Entering the front door is the next critical moment to impress the Buyer. You will want to carefully select food you cook or choose to eat out more often to control odors. A fresh and clean smelling home will help to bolster that first impression.

Removing distracting items, increasing cleanliness, and ensuring order are other things you can do to make sure your home is in its best showing condition. You should let your agent know that you prefer Buyers and their agents not operate anything in your home (you still live in it). They can leave that to their inspectors once an offer is in place.

As a Buyer, the best way to build confidence in your decision is to tour the home and property. Touring means that you physically walk through the home and property to view, inspect, and get a feel for what living there might be like.

Check with your agent about what is allowed during a tour. Most sellers do not allow photos or video to be taken. You need to respect that you are visiting someone’s home.

Take your time walking through every room. This may be the only time you see the home in person. Ask the agent to open every door so you are well aware of the home’s layout. Walk completely around the outside of the home. A well made tour will give you confidence in making an offer.

Many homes for sale are now offering remote, virtual tours. These come in different formats. Some are just videos, while others are 3D interactive walk-through photos or live walk-throughs. The most effective virtual tour is the live walk-through.

Live walk-throughs are given by your agent or sometimes even the Seller. Your tour guide will hold a webcam or phone showing you a live feed while you are at home or some other remote location. Interaction with your tour guide will allow you to ask immediate questions and request specific views and perspectives. Some have found that these tours are as good as an in-person tour and sufficient for making a confident offer.

Home showing and tours are often the final step before a Buyer will prepare an offer on a home. Offers are usually made immediately or very shortly after a tour, so Seller’s should put forward their best efforts and be prepared.