How Well Does a Home “Show?”
Savvy Sellers (and their agents) know that buying a home is an inherently emotional process.
Accordingly, they take the necessary steps to make sure that — in Realtors’ lingo — the home “shows well.”
In a nutshell, that means that the home is made to look as inviting as possible: everything is straightened up, the lights are on, and the Buyer is generally made to feel welcome.
And if it happens to be a (very chilly) March in Minnesota, the thermostat is set to a nice, toasty temp (bonus points for turning on the gas fireplace(s)).
Those things are especially important for second showings (vs. first showings), where the Buyer is doubling back to consider homes on their short list.
That “Red Carpet” Feeling
Do small touches like fresh flowers and fresh-baked cookies help?
You ‘betcha.
Showing townhomes in the west suburbs last weekend, the Seller’s “mini spread” (top photo) — complete with a handwritten note inviting my clients to help themselves — made a huge impact, and set a terrific tone.
At the other extreme, every veteran Realtor has had the experience of showing a home (inset photo, above) where it felt like the owner literally didn’t know that their home was on the market, let alone that prospective Buyers would be walking through.
P.S.: Which home feels like it just came on the market, and which one has been for sale for years?
