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At HomeSmart Real Estate, we are Real Estate professionals … this is what we DO for a living! We can help you SELL your existing home and help you BUY a new home. For many, many reasons, we strongly recommend you hire a Real Estate professional … just like you hire a professional hairdresser, plumber or surgeon! When your home is on the market and a Realtor has called to show your home:
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Do plan to leave the house once the potential buyers arrive, if not before. If sellers are home, buyers will quickly tour the home and leave. They will feel as if they shouldn't stay long, and will not take the time to imagine their family and furniture in the home.
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A Realtor will often give you a window of time during which they will arrive. No reason to necessarily leave prior to their arrival, but definitely do when they arrive.
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When they ring the doorbell, DO NOT answer the door, for two reasons. First of all, when a Realtor logs into the lock box, their entry is recorded and we can access that information on the computer to contact them for feedback. Secondly, you do not want to have the buyers or their agent engage you in a conversation. Your reasons for moving, where you are moving, when you need to move, etc. can be used in negotiating and we would not want to disclose any of your “pressure to sell.”
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Also advise children not to answer the door, and not to answer questions about the family’s moving plans.
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Go out through the garage and let the buyers come in the front door. IF you see them, be cordial, of course … just wave and drive away. Chatting on your cell phone, as you walk out, will also discourage a conversation.
SAFETY ISSUES: Buyers will make an appointment. There is a sign in the yard with the phone number on it. If the person is legitimately looking to buy a home, they will call us or their own Realtor to make an appointment.
- NEVER, ever allow strangers into your home who just knock on your door, regardless of the excuse they use to try to come in immediately.
- Advise children NEVER to let anyone in or answer questions.
- Do NOT even answer the door … serious parties will call from the sign.
- Advise children to never answer the door by themselves during this time.
With a professional realtor, clients are always screened, and you know that the client is a potential buyer. YOUR SAFETY IS NEVER JEOPARDIZED!
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