I showed several properties today in Southern Maryland. A few sellers were home when we arrived. As always, I say hello and hand the seller my business card, introducing myself as the buyer's agent. Today, these sellers wanted to stay on our heels and follow my clients and me through their properties rather than making themselves scarce. And, as usual, it affected the showings in a negative way.
First off, a seller on the heels of a buyer makes for a very uncomfortable showing. The buyers cannot communicate freely, they cannot move at their own pace, they are inhibited by the seller's presence. You know the feeling - like being followed and watched when shopping in a retail store - but worse - you are shopping for the largest purchase of your life, not a dime-store trinket.
Secondly, a seller typically talks too much - unprompted talk, at that. For example, today, the sellers on our heels rambled on and on and, in so many words, implied that they were in financial distress... informed us that a large portion of their property was full of useless ravines... informed us of their marital problems and desperation to sell... etc, all unprompted and freely shared negative information about their home and personal situation. I have heard sellers, in the past, inform the buyers of the price they would accept on their home or how much they owe on their property...about the nasty neighbor that lives next door...about the band-aid, shoddy, repairs they made...that the bedrooms are just too small...that the same house down the street is on the market for $$$ less than their home...etc.
Everyone can understand that a seller wants their home to sell - that is why it is listed for sale - but their presence at a showing will do more harm than good, regardless of their intention. If the buyers thought the land was beautiful, why put it in their mind that it is useless ravines? If the buyers felt that the bedroom sizes were ample, a seller's statement that they are "just too small" presents doubt in the buyer's mind. It is best to allow the buyer's agent to show the property and allow the potential buyers to look, examine, dream and decide if the home is the home for them. So, sellers, make yourself scarce and let your Realtor do their job of communicating with the buyer's agent to obtain feedback and to answer questions...it is, without a doubt, the better option.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For All Your Real Estate Needs, Call Your Southern Maryland Realtor!
Marie Lally / O'Brien Realty
Direct: 301-748-8698 (Always Best to Call Direct!)
Office: 301-884-7400
Website: http://www.marielally.com
Search for Homes: http://search.marielally.com
email: marie@marielally.com
Serving Charles County, St. Mary's County and Calvert County, MD
No comments:
Post a Comment