When your potential buyer or agent contact you to see a home, it is perfectly acceptable to request a proof of funds or prequalification letter prior to scheduling the showing. This shows you that this buyer is verified and qualified buyer so that when you clean and prep the house, you are not wasting your time. While you do not need to accept every showing request, especially if it’s within the next 15 minutes or too quick of a turnaround timeframe, you do want to try to accommodate as many as possible. Every rejected showing is another potential buyer. If you can not accommodate their initial showing request, try to offer other times that do work for you. Try to create 30 minute windows for the showing, for example, buyer arrival between the time of 3-330. This doesn’t mean they will be done in that time, just means their arrival will be during that time. It can be difficult to show up right at 3pm, especially if they are viewing multiple homes and most buyers will. Viewing multiple homes is also a good thing, you want the buyers to have some comparisons so that they can gauge the quality of your home vs the rest of the market. You will have at times multiple buyers wanting to view the home, let the buyer or agent know you do have showings between 3-330 and can create a showing for them between 330-4, but if someone is still in the house to please give them time to complete their showing prior to entering. This gives the first buyer time to again create that connection to your home.
If a buyers agent is showing, while not required, a good idea would be to let them in the house and then either wait on the porch, or leave and go to a nearby park. This gives the buyer privacy to be able to envision themselves living in the home and ultimately fall in love with the home. When an owner is still at the property it creates a sense of urgency and uncomfortableness that doesn’t allow the buyer to fully relax. This sometimes can create friction that doesn’t allow that emotional connection between buyer and the home. If the buyer doesn’t have an agent, or you do not feel comfortable allowing the agent and buyer to walk the home on their own, it is acceptable to be there during the showing. Let the buyer know where you will be (front or back patio), to take their time, and let you know if they have absolutely any questions. In some cases it is still acceptable to tour the buyer through the home, just know that it doesn’t create the same experience for buyers. If security is a concern, lock up personal belongings that you are worried about. Buyers do not go through personal property but it is understandable to have this concern.
When you schedule your showing, try to have the property as close to the condition that it was in during the photoshoot as possible. Have any pets with you rather than locking them up in a kennel. Pups barking or causing a stir can have a negative effect on the buyer experience. Have all the lights on in the home, turn on your smelly goods, and have gentle music playing such as classical or jazz music. Try to have the volume subtle enough that the buyers can have a conversation right in front of the speakers without yelling but just creates a slight vibration and ambiance through the home. Avoid songs with vocals or commercials so that the buyer doesn’t think someone is having a conversation somewhere when they walk through the home and creates an uneasy experience. The showing can last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. Best practice is to have a book ready and not appear rushed so that the buyer can relax and spend as much time connecting to your home as possible. The longer the showing, the better of a chance that an offer is incoming.