subject: Salesmanship Guide When Selling Your Home [print this page] It is not enough for you to just beautify your house to impress prospective buyers because there is the matter of creating the proper ambiance that will make clients feel that they are accepted and on friendly grounds.
Whether or not you're selling your home on your own or through the assistance of real estate agents, the basic tips for successful home showing remain the same.
The first is that you should always be ready to show your home to potential buyers. Should visitors however come at odd or unholy hours, then you will be perfectly justified in refusing to entertain them. The point is that you should go out of your way to accommodate buyers if and when necessary. Always be ready to show off your home and greet your guests with a smile even if your guest comes in 15 minutes early or 15 minutes late. Buyers are anyway expected to advise you if they will not be on time for their appointment.
If you are not conducting the inspection, make yourself scarce when your agent arrives with a prospective buyer in tow to inspect your place. Buyers are generally more comfortable with agents than the homeowner, although you might prefer to have a personal feel of the developments. A prospective buyer may refrain from asking pointed questions and to try things like opening doors and windows, switching on lights, etc. If you're doing the selling, you may open and close doors yourself and naturally, answer their questions. However, try to keep your distance. Give your guests privacy and let them explore the place on their own.
As a home seller, it is also important that you remain slightly impersonal in your dealings with clients. At the same time, don't just stand there saying and doing nothing. What you are trying to avoid is an exchange of opinions about current issues that can degenerate into a debate.
It would be wise to keep your pets out of the way because you cannot tell how people will react to pets and some may be even be averse or even allergic to their presence.
Make some discreet inquiries about the background of people who express interest in your house before you bring them to your home. You can verify the details they have provided (phone number, email, etc), by making a return call or sending them an electronic message. A good precaution would be to have somebody with you at the time of the client's site inspection. If this is not possible then make your guests enter the home (and the interior rooms) first and situate yourself by the door at all times. You can make a dash for the doors if the unexpected will happen.
