4 Home Showing Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

Showing a home is one of the most important parts of selling a home. This is when interested home buyers come through and hopefully fall in love with the home so much that they feel they have to put in an offer. However, many homeowners don’t realize that some of the things they do are quietly sabotaging their chances at finding that buyer. Here are some common mistakes homeowners make when showing their home and how to avoid them.

1. Pets and Homeowners at Home

When having buyers come see the home with their agents, some homeowners may think it’s perfectly acceptable to stay in the home and go about their business or even shadow the visitors to see what they think of the home. However, homeowners at home can be detrimental to a home’s chances of selling. This is because some home buyers may think they need to get in and out of the home as quickly as possible so as not to disturb the people living there, or because they feel like they aren’t allowed to speak freely about what they like and dislike about the home so they don’t offend the homeowner. Ultimately, a homeowner wants a potential buyer to examine their home closely, so that it will sell, such as those in Williamstown.

Likewise, pets can also be a problem. Whether it’s because the visitors are allergic to animals, afraid of them, or just don’t want an excited dog jumping at them, it’s best to remove all pets from the home during showings.  Either take them to a kennel for a day, leave them with a friend or family member, or take them to a park to play until it’s safe to go back home.

2. Leaving the Home Empty

Some homeowners may think that the home should be completely empty when they sell it. Such a decision can be risky, as empty rooms have a tendency to look far smaller than they actually are, which can turn away buyers. Many buyers try to imagine themselves living in the homes they visit, and a lack of furniture can make it difficult for people to do that. If possible, sellers should do everything in their power to stage the home when they’re selling.

3. An Unkempt or Dying Yard

The exterior of a home is going to be its first impression with home buyers. If someone comes to the home, their opinion could be influenced by a dying or unkempt yard, leading them to assume the rest of the home is kept in a similar manner. When preparing to sell a home, be sure to give some attention the exterior as well as the interior. Make sure the lawn is neatly trimmed, the gardens are orderly and alive, and the home itself doesn’t have any obvious flaws.

4. Obvious Necessary Repairs

Does the home have cracked windows, rotted siding, or carpeting so stained no amount of cleaning will make it look good? As buyers go through a home, they make note of everything they’ll need to do to the home should they decide to purchase it. If the list of repairs gets too long, it won’t be worth the money because they’ll have to spend so much extra time and money on repairs. To avoid this, try to do all necessary fixes before putting the home up for sale so potential buyers won’t be turned away.

By following these four tips, homeowners can help make their home as appealing as possible to buyers as they come to showings. Working with an experienced real estate agent can also give homeowners the edge they need to fix mistake before they become problems.