Can your home be shown without you being present?
Okay, this is where there rubber meets the road. And this can be an uncomfortable thing to consider for some sellers. Obviously, the more access that buyers have to view your home, the more flexibility buyers have in scheduling appointments to see the home. More flexibility give more opportunities for buyers to tour your home and potentially make offers. In the Atlanta real estate market, buyer’s and their agents often schedule multiple showings that will occur one after another. If you’re home isn’t accessible, because you aren’t home, then real estate agents and their prospective buyers may have to make a special trip back to the neighborhood just to see your home.
My Experience
In my experience, buyers and agents feel more comfortable showing houses when the owner is not present. An empty house allows the buyer and the agent to openly discuss the pros and cons of the home in real time while on site. They also have more freedom to potentially look at details of the home a little closer than they likely would if the owner is present. (Think… looking under bathroom sinks, etc)
I have sold my primary residence on more than one occasion. And I’ve had the opportunity to sell my house in both alternative scenarios, occupied, and unoccupied. When I listed my house while I was still living there, I made the home available to anyone that made a scheduled appointment. The only times I would decline showings was when I was at home on the weekend with my family, AND someone called for a showing with no prior notice because “they were already in the neighborhood” and wanted to show the house.
If buyers scheduled showings during times when I was going to be at home, I would always offer to give them a guided walkthrough. If they opt for a self-guided tour I make it a point to try to stay out of their way by remaining in one room of the house during the showing or stepping outside to give them a little privacy to discuss.
I have represented seller’s that preferred to be present for all showings. And I’ve also shown occupied properties with these same stipulations to my clients that were purchasing homes.
Whispers and Short Showings
What I’ve noticed with most listings including my own, is that most buyers and agents “try” to be considerate. They whisper when they walk/tour occupied homes when the owner is at home during the showing. And overall the showings seemed to last much shorter periods of time. No hanging out I guess.
Ultimately, there is not a right or a wrong way to do this. It’s just one consideration and decision that you as a seller should make as you move forward to sell your home.