3. What to Expect from My Photos and Marketing
Serving Hampton Roads
How YOU CAN PREPARE for Showings
Whether it’s a personal showing for individual buyers, or an open house where many people could walk through, I want you to be prepared, protected, and pleased with the results.
COMMUNICATION
It is optimal for you as the seller to be as flexible and accommodating to the buyers schedule as possible. We want to avoid having missed opportunities if at all possible.
Make sure everyone in the home is informed when showings are to happen so they can keep their spaces clean and be out of the home during the showing window. Having a seller present can make buyers feel awkward. We want to make the buyers feel at home and stay awhile.
SECURITY
- Be extra vigilant on keeping doors locked. Oftentimes a home for sale means homeowners are not at home. So be sure to always keep your doors and windows locked.
- Make sure that all valuables are put away out of sight. Items of value such as jewelry, artwork, cellphones, and gaming systems should be placed securely away.
- Clean out your medicine cabinets and any other place you may store medications and hide them away. There have been more and more stories of people intentionally going to home showings to attempt to take medications when an agent’s back is turned.
- Put away all mail pieces, especially bills or notices with your information on them. If this information ends up in the wrong persons hands, it can easily lead to identity theft.
CLEANING
- Keep up with daily messes. Wipe down kitchen and bathroom counters before leaving for the day.
- Avoid strong-smelling foods: Keep your meal prep as neutral and simple as possible when about to leave for a showing.
- Keep pet areas clean. Clean up after your pets immediately and wash their bedding regularly. Hide pet food or litter before the showing. Not everyone is a pet person and it may hinder a potential buyer’s ability to picture themselves living in your home.
- Open blinds and curtains and let in as much natural light as possible. Leave lights on before you leave for a showing.
- Empty trash cans to avoid any odors. Try to do this nightly so that the home is fresh when you leave for the day, and check the cans if leaving right before a showing.
- Keep the room temperature comfortable. This demonstrates to buyers that the HVAC is working properly, and keeps them comfortable so they continue viewing and absorbing every feature.
How I WILL PREPARE YOU for Showings
COMMUNICATION
Before listing, we will discuss your needs for showing the home. If you need a certain amount of notice to prepare and vacate the home, or if you need certain times blocked off when showings will not be available, I will make sure that you come first every step of the way. When I list your home, I will reach out to you to confirm each and every showing that is requested. I will update you to the best of my knowledge when each buyer enters and leaves the home, and request feedback from their agent immediately. When feedback isn’t received immediately, I will follow up with those agents again requesting their feedback within 24 hours.
I will actively communicate with you through every step of the process. This includes diligently sharing the feedback from showings, following up with agents to discuss their buyer’s possible interest, and calling a minimum of weekly to discuss the progress from the previous week.
SECURITY
A secure lockbox will be used which allows real estate agents access to show buyers your home securely. The lockbox holds the keys to the home and is typically found at the front door or in an easy to find place. It is securely locked by an electronic key that only a local licensed agent will be able to access. Don't allow anyone in without an appointment or who doesn’t have access to the lockbox. Now that your home is online many know that it is for sale. For your safety, NEVER let a stranger into your home. While it is likely that it is just someone that saw the sign in your yard and is interested in getting a quick look, you just never know. Ask them politely to call your agent who handles all showings.
OPEN HOUSES
If you are open to the idea of an open house, they can be a great way to get many buyers looking at your home very quickly. However, it is all the more important to have things tidy and secured, as even a couple agents stationed throughout the home cannot guarantee keeping everyone in sight every second. I will schedule each open house with you and we will document every agent and potential buyer who walks through to maintain as much information for your safety as possible.
