• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Accessibility Statement

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on InstagramFollow Us on YouTubeRSS Feed

Kimberly Howell Properties

San Antonio Real Estate

office@kimberlyhowell.com
(210) 493-6888
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Agents
  • Buyers
    • Neighborhoods
    • Relocation Information
  • Sellers
  • Listings
    • Available Rentals
    • Homes for Sale
    • McNair Custom Homes
    • Open Houses
  • Contact
  • Rental SearchHomes for Rent
  • REALTORS®Find an Agent
  • McNair Custom HomesNew Construction
  • Property SearchHomes for Sale
You are here: Home / Homeowner Tips / Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?

Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?

September 20, 2012 by khproperties Leave a Comment

The Clash

So, you’ve decided to sell your house? Congratulations! After meeting with an agent to sign the paperwork, surely you’ve gone over the many things you can do to improve the way your home shows. From sweeping the front walk to making the bed or even putting cookies in the oven, there are hundreds of little tricks sellers use to put their home’s best side in the spotlight.

But what you may not have prepared for is the uncomfortable feeling of knowing that strangers are walking through and scrutinizing your home. Your home has, until now, been your private domain, a retreat, and a refuge all your own. But once that for sale sign goes up, you’re in a different world and you may be tempted to try and hold on to the security of knowing all of the happenings in your home by hanging around during showings. But there are several important reasons to relax, take a step back, and let buyers (and their agent) walk through uninterrupted.

Free speech

  • Buyers will not feel free to discuss their concerns with the homeowners around. This feedback is important for buyer’s agents to have so that they may help overcome many issues. Good agents can provide buyers with options that could change a buyer’s perspective on a property. Do you have an extra bedroom the buyers don’t want to furnish? Why not convert it into a private library or workout room? Buyers hate the cabinets in the kitchen? Here are some suggestions for quick fixes or low cost changes that could easily bring them back around to considering your home more seriously.
  • Buyers may not want to let you, the seller, know that they’re in love with the house. They want you to think this is a serious business deal and they could take it or leave it, because they think it will help them in negotiations. The key here is to get them to negotiations to begin with. Let them be happy and excited and you’ll get your offer soon enough.

Overtalking

  • Information Overload: Your home is your castle, and you want to make sure potential buyers don’t miss a single glorious detail. We get it. But in your enthusiasm, you may start to overwhelm the buyer. Or not pick up on clues from them. Or focus on things they could care less about so they get bored and anxious to move on. Don’t risk it.
  • Expectations: In your enthusiasm to show off your home, you may start to make promises to the buyer – “Sure that framed picture can stay” or “Oh, yeah, I’ll paint the garage for you.” But these promises may be based on the prospect of a full priced offer, and with a lower than anticipated offer in front of you the next day, you may not be so eager to make those kinds of concessions. And then you can end up with an ugly “he said/she said” scenario that leaves no one happy.

Judgement

  • Hot Topics: Like it or not, many home buyers cannot look past their own prejudices to focus on a home. Don’t give them anything more to judge or to question. Sometimes buyers and sellers meet, start talking, and become the best of friends. But how often do you really think that happens? You’re a super swell person, but do you get along with everyone you meet? Do some people just rub you the wrong way from the get-go? Do you cringe when hearing someone go on about their favorite political candidate? Don’t let potential personality conflicts get in the way of the ultimate goal of home selling. Just don’t go there to begin with.
  • Looks can be deceiving: What if it just so happens that you look like a potential buyer’s ex girlfriend? Or a mean former teacher? There are so many possible relations. Do you want to be associated with a buyer’s past history? Sometimes it is unavoidable, but is it worth the risk?
  • What to do, what to do?

    Instead of hovering around your home when you are scheduled to have a potential showing, try the following tips to get your home ready for showing, then try some of the following: take a walk, return some purchases, get the car washed, take the kids to the park, treat yourself to a nice meal, work-out, see a movie, buy a “just because” card for a loved one, hand write some letters, remember how to do cartwheels in the grass, or volunteer. Whatever you choose, just avoid being in the home during showings (and always leave some room in the schedule for the buyers to take a bit of extra time – nothing worse than feeling rushed).

    image courtesy of mtarvainen

    Related Posts

    • Holiday Decorating or Listing Disaster?Holiday Decorating or Listing Disaster?
    • Fix Up Your Home Before Putting It On The MarketFix Up Your Home Before Putting It On The Market
    • Why Good Real Estate Photos MatterWhy Good Real Estate Photos Matter
    • Things to Do After You Move InThings to Do After You Move In
    • 6 Steps to Take Before Selling Your Home6 Steps to Take Before Selling Your Home

Filed Under: Homeowner Tips Tagged With: sell your home, tips, advice, listing, showing

Quick Search

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Confused About The Housing Market?

Confused About The Housing Market? Lean On Your Realtor

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, you probably want to know what’s really happening with home prices, mortgage rates, housing supply, and more. That’s not an easy task considering how … [Read More...] about Confused About The Housing Market? Lean On Your Realtor

Homeownership Is An Investment In Your Future

Homeownership: An Investment In Your Future

There are many people thinking about buying a home, but with everything affecting the economy, some are wondering if it’s a smart decision to buy now or if it makes more sense to wait it out. As Bob Broeksmit, … [Read More...] about Homeownership: An Investment In Your Future

Ready for Homeownership?

What You Need To Know If You’re Ready For Homeownership

If you’re a young adult, you may be thinking about your goals and priorities for the months and years ahead. And if homeownership ranks high on your goal sheet, you’re in good company. Many of your peers are … [Read More...] about What You Need To Know If You’re Ready For Homeownership

Prioritizing Your Wants and Needs

Prioritizing Your Wants And Needs As A Homebuyer

There’s no denying mortgage rates are higher now than they were last year. And if you’re thinking about buying a home, this may be top of mind for you. That’s because those higher rates impact how much it costs … [Read More...] about Prioritizing Your Wants And Needs As A Homebuyer

Winter Selling Checklist

Your Winter Home Selling Checklist

As you get ready to sell your house, add these items to your to-do list. A real estate professional will also provide other helpful tips based on your specific situation. Have questions, let us … [Read More...] about Your Winter Home Selling Checklist

Search Our Site

Real Estate Topics

  • Buying a Home
  • Homeowner Tips
  • KHP News
  • Local Events
  • Local Laws
  • Miscellaneous
  • Mortgages and Financing
  • Open Houses
  • Real Estate
  • Real Estate Market
  • Renters and Landlords
  • San Antonio Places
  • Sell Your Home
  • Technology
Our real estate agents can help you with properties anywhere in Texas. If you need assistance finding agents in other parts of the country, please contact us.

Search Homes

Explore Cities

  • Alamo Heights 36 Listings
  • Bandera 385 Listings
  • Blanco 187 Listings
  • Boerne 712 Listings
  • Bulverde 419 Listings
  • Canyon Lake 465 Listings
  • Castle Hills 22 Listings
  • Castroville 94 Listings
  • Cibolo 376 Listings
  • Comfort 59 Listings
  • Converse 671 Listings
  • Fair Oaks Ranch 54 Listings
  • Floresville 238 Listings
  • Garden Ridge 11 Listings
  • Helotes 147 Listings
  • Hill Country Village 4 Listings
  • La Vernia 172 Listings
  • Lakehills 141 Listings
  • Leon Valley 23 Listings
  • Live Oak 81 Listings
  • Mico 123 Listings
  • New Braunfels 1530 Listings
  • Olmos Park 9 Listings
  • San Antonio 10789 Listings
  • Schertz 295 Listings
  • Seguin 638 Listings
  • Selma 75 Listings
  • Shavano Park 12 Listings
  • Spring Branch 422 Listings
  • Terrell Hills 17 Listings
  • Universal City 93 Listings
  • Windcrest 32 Listings
  • Hollywood Pk 2 Listings

Stay up to date with the latest from Kimberly Howell Properties.

San Antonio real estate and property information provided by Kimberly Howell Properties. Kimberly Howell Properties does not assume any liability or responsibility for the operation or content of any of the linked resources, nor for any of the interpretations, comments, graphics, or opinions contained therein. All information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

KJH Properties, Inc. is a licensed real estate brokerage in the State of Texas, Equal Opportunity Employer, and supporter of the Fair Housing Act.

TREC Information About Brokerage Services | TREC Consumer Protection Notice | Privacy Policy

All content © 2009-2023 Kimberly Howell Properties, unless otherwise noted.