Marin Modern Real Estate Blog
Feedback from Buyers After Recent Property Showings
Working primarily with buyers, I preview many properties each week throughout Marin County across all price points. I also spend a good deal of time showing my buyers properties by appointment. In these particularly challenging times to be selling a home, I thought it would be helpful to hear the perspective of a Buyer's Agent when it comes to a seller's level of motivation in wanting to have their home stand out among the steep competition and making their home show well.
I usually start by making an appointment with a seller to show their home to a client on a particular day and time. I call and sometimes leave a messge and in those cases I often get a quick call back. Sellers who need to sell their home are generally very motivated to accomodate realtors with clients. On a recent occasion, I called a Seller during the week and asked for an appointment for Saturday at 10:00 and I was told by the seller that he wasn't a morning person and could I show his home after 2:00? Since I had several other properties and appointments to make I was unable to change my itinerary so I chose to take this property off the list of homes to see that day. This was sadly, a missed opportunity for the Seller.
Whether I am showing a home to a client or previewing it in advance, I am always hopeful that the Seller understands the need to have their home look well maintained and neat. Yet, on occasion I find myself embarrassed by situations that could easily be prevented with a little forethought by a Seller. Accordingly, I would like to address all sellers who may read this and ask respectfully to consider doing the following in advance of a buyer looking at your home (whether by private appointment or an open house) - make all beds, clean out the dishes in the sink, pick up any clothes on the floor, open a window if there is a pungent aroma from last night's dinner, scoop up your pet's waste from the backyard, remove all medication bottles from view, remove all child proof gates so that my clients and I can navigate freely through your house, take down all inappropriate photographs and art work, and most importantly open all drapes and blinds in your home and turn on the lights! The old saying "You never get a seocnd chance to make a first impression" really applies to the condition of your home when a prospective buyer first walks through your door.
While I can certainly appreciate the challenges faced by a family still living in a home while it is on the market for sale, it is incumbent upon a motivated seller to straigthen up their house and make it as inviting as possible prior to a showing or an open house. Consider it a part of the staging process. Given the steep competition in today's local real estate market, sellers need to make their home stand out and one of the easiest ways to do this is to make your home look like you care! It sounds simple and is, but all of the examples I've identified above are real and reflective of homes I've previewed or brought buyers to in just the last few months.
Lastly, one of the most important things a seller can do prior to putting their home on the market is to go into open homes and see what those sellers have done to make their home "shine" for prospective buyers. At Marin Modern Real Estate we work with our sellers to ensure that their home is staged properly prior to putting it on the active market. Staging can be minimal; it may involve removing some pieces or even just re-positioning furniture. In other cases, we work with staging professionals and bring in furniture where needed. In either case, our listings show well and reflect the motivation of our sellers. It is usually a winning combination.
Feel free to contact me to discuss buying or selling in Marin County. I bring a high-tech and high touch approach to the experience that is both satisfying and successful for my clients.
Date: Saturday, February, 13th 2010 @ 03:12:53 PMViews: 219
This blog entry currently has 2 comments posted.
Jason Luke
Always nice to receive some positive comments from clients, makes it all worth while really.
Jason Luke - Burnaby Condos
infinity at brickell condos
I found this blog informative. Needs of a person varies from person to person. In order to achieve more success in real estate business now-a-days sales people have to be more specific. Thanks for this