Step 12 To Selling a Home: Time For Showings!

Exciting news! We have our first showing request!

Here are a few things to keep in mind before every showing:

• Have your home look just like it did for the photographs (ie. clean, all dishes put away, floors free of dog hair, etc)
• Put all toilet seat lids down
• Open all curtains/blinds
• Turn on all lights before you leave for a showing (or before you leave for work in the morning)
• Hide any valuables such as jewelry, prescription medications, firearms, and other valuables
• Hide all bills and mail with your name on them as we don’t want potential buyers to know who you are
• Make sure our listing brochures are available and visible -- on the dining room table or kitchen counter
• Turn off alarm systems (OR give us the alarm code with authorization to only share with licensed REALTORS® with confirmed showing appointments) and lock all doors

While we'd love for every showing request to come with 24 hours' notice, some REALTORS® may not give us that long, especially in the first few days your home is listed. Click here to read some tips on getting your home ready for a showing in 15 minutes or less.

Also, we love a good-smelling home...and so do buyers! Click here to read about making sure your home is pleasing to every buyer's nose.

The buyer’s REALTOR® will use the lockbox key to enter/exit and should be expected (and we remind them in our showing instructions) to leave the home as they found it -- in other words, doors locked and lights on (or to turn off all lights upon exiting, if we request).

Showings usually last 15 to 30 minutes depending on the size of your home; however, in case clients come early we like to have you out 15 minutes before the showing is scheduled to start and stay out for the duration of the listing appointment window. Therefore, plan to be gone for 45 minutes to 1 hour for each showing. We will request that the agent text us when they're finished with the showing, if you need to rush back home, but we don't want them to feel rushed in your home.

Take pets with you unless you have them crate-trained (but keep in mind that barking dogs can be a distraction to buyers and may make them leave the home quickly and abbreviate their showing. 

After the showing, the buyer’s REALTOR® will automatically get an email asking for feedback, and then we will call and email them for several days after the showing to try for feedback. Generally only about 30% of REALTOR® fill it out, and the general rule of thumb is that, if a buyer is interested, we'll hear from them right away. If the REALTOR® does send feedback, we will send you a copy of it immediately.

If you have any questions, please let us know! Now let’s get your home sold!