DFW Real Estate Showing Tips

When showing your DFW home for sale, you want to do your best to engage the buyer emotionally because their decision to buy is based more on emotions, and less on logic. Give the buyer the emotions to say yes by staging and accentuating your home's positive attributes, and minimizing attention to the negative attributes.  This is paramount to selling any and successfully. 

Gracious Welcome

Although buyers are guests in your home, you want them to imagine themselves owning and living in the home. You don't want to make the buyer feel like an outsider.

·         Don't pressure or hurry the buyer. Tell them to take all the time they want.

·         Don't expect the buyers to remove their shoes, unless you are selling to a buyer for whom religious or cultural reasons dictate it. 

·         It is best to leave the house. The buyer won't feel comfortable about talking about the house in front of you.

·         Leave a bowl of mints or other treats near the front door with a small note thanking the buyer for coming to see your home.

Check the Temperature

·         Now is not the time to worry about your utility bill. If it's cold enough to wear a sweater turn on the heat.

·         If it's hot outside, turn on the AC. It's better to heat or cool the house a degree or two warmer or colder than usual and then set the temperature at normal. This prevents the heat or A/C from coming on when the buyer is present, because some HVAC systems are loud. 

·         You want the temperature inside to be comfortable and to give the buyer more of a reason to stay longer, especially on hot or cold days!

·         This may not be possible with because many times the utilities are not on at the property.

Create a Mood

·         Light a fire in the fireplace even if it is summer time.

·         Romanticize it by placing two champagne glasses on a nearby table.

·         Turn on soft music like jazz or classical.

·         If you have water fountains, turn them on.

·         Turn on all lighting and ceiling fans.

Play Up the Visual

·         If you have seasonal photographs showcasing flower gardens, leaves bursting in color or a snow-covered lawn twinkling from street lights, then display them.

·         Take down all the photos of your family.  If your family members are pasted all over the walls it’s hard for them to imagine it being their own home.

·         Open all the window coverings to let in light.

·         Keep blinds partially closed that otherwise show undesirable outdoor scenery such as a dilapidated fence or a nearby structure that obstructs views.

Play Down the Scent

·         Many people are allergic to certain scents and deodorizers, so don't spray the air or plug-in air fresheners.

·         Don't burn candles or spray perfume in the bedroom for the same reason.

·         If you're going to bake cookies or brownies or simmer spices such as cinnamon in water on the stove, put out munchies so buyers aren't disappointed. More than one buyer has said, "Oh, shucks, I thought there were cookies here".

Brighten up the House

·         Turn on every light in the house, including appliance lights and closet lights.

·         Brighten dark rooms with few windows by placing spot lights on the floor behind furniture.

·         Turn on all ceiling fans and even the fireplace.

Provide Thoughtful Notes

Attach printed notes to items and in rooms that provide further information the buyer might miss or might not know. This will go a long way with the buyers.

·         If you have an expensive chandelier in your dining room, put a card on it that discloses its age and other important details.

·         If you have removed the washer and dryer from the laundry room, attach a card to the wall describing the room.

·         If a room is empty place a note giving the buyers an idea what this area can be used for.

Top It Off With Food

The best way to entice buyers to linger in your home and notice more details about your home is to offer them food and drink. You don't need to cater a lunch, but finger sandwiches, cookies, soft drinks, water, coffee, and desserts are all a good idea.

Encourage Buyer Feedback

·         Near the food and drinks, leave pens and a stack of questionnaire cards for the buyers.

·         Buyers will feel obligated to respond to your request after being given food and drink.

·         The showing feedback you receive will be invaluable to your selling goals.

·         Allow buyer anonymity by not requesting their name or contact information.