Many of us lead busy lives, which can make the prospect of showing our home to potential buyers difficult, but did you know that just one sticky note can save the day? I’m in the season of life where I’ve got three little ones at the house, and it’s just hard to get the house completely picked up and clean for a first showing.
I recommend that instead of immediately leaving the house before the agent gets there, you leave them a sticky note with your first name and cell phone number on it. Then you can take the dogs on a walk or throw everyone in the car and let the buyer’s agent know to text you when they are done.
There are a few key things to remember while doing this. First, don’t engage in conversation with the agent. The person with the most information wins in negotiations. We want that to be us, so don’t engage them if they have any questions. Hand them the sticky note, then exit.
Why is this so important? Let’s say the agent’s client is coming in from Houston and has about a dozen houses they want to see. They’ll block out a two-hour window for your home, but what if they don’t make it during that time? You’ll end up cleaning up the house and getting the kids out for no reason. That’s such a disappointment, but it’s a reality.
We have found that on average, your first showing is just five to ten minutes. If your home is one of the top homes that a buyer sees on their first go-through, they’ll come back for a second showing. That second showing will take a lot longer and require more planning on your part, but for your first showing, the sticky note method will help you add more time to your day and spend less of it running around unnecessarily.
If you have any questions for me about selling a home or about the real estate market in general, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
