Should the seller be at home during showings or conveniently absent? If at home, what should the seller say or not say, do or not do? These issues are not trivial and often affect the success or failure of a showing. Here are some specific suggestions:
BEING GONE IS THE BEST PLAN
Being gone is the best plan if possible. You might be expecting an important phone call or have a sick child home school and leaving home is not the best option. If the seller is going to be present, the best approach is to greet the Realtor and buyer at the door and then excuse yourself and retire to a remote part of the house or step outside if the weather permits. Do not volunteer information and do not initiate conversations with the buyer.
BE GONE IF YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE
Some sellers don’t want to be home during showings. They say that they hired the real estate professional to handle everything. If this is the way that you feel, then it is certainly best to be absent during showings.
BE GONE IF YOU MAY TEND TO INTERFERE
Some sellers, if at home, cannot remain reserved while the showing is in progress. Because of their need to be in charge, they usually will take an active role in guiding the tour through the house because they are convinced that no one can show their home as well as they can. This may be true, but it could spell disaster. Most buyers would rather look at the house with their Realtor from of any pressure from the seller. If the buyer is alone with the Realtor, conversation and questions are more comfortable. If the seller is leading the tour, most buyers will remain respectfully quiet and anxious to get out of the house as soon as possible.
ADVICE: Leave the profession to the professional. Let the Realtors conduct the showing. They know their buyers and how to relate to them. They know what the buyer wants to hear and more importantly, what they don’t want to hear.
