{"id":746,"date":"2016-01-26T10:10:08","date_gmt":"2016-01-26T18:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/?p=746"},"modified":"2016-01-26T09:26:18","modified_gmt":"2016-01-26T17:26:18","slug":"8-unwritten-etiquette-rules-every-home-seller-should-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2016\/01\/8-unwritten-etiquette-rules-every-home-seller-should-know\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Unwritten Etiquette Rules Every Home Seller Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you\u2019re trying to sell your home, you\u2019ve probably scrutinized it, staged it, and scrubbed it down from floorboards to rooftop as if the folks from Architectural Digest were stopping by for a cover shoot. OK, so it\u2019s in immaculate shape\u2014but your home isn\u2019t the only thing under scrutiny here. You are, too! That\u2019s right: No matter how nice your home is, your behavior can also affect how buyers feel about making an offer.<br \/>\nLast week we told you the secret etiquette rules that every home buyer needs to know in order to nail the deal. Today we\u2019re focusing on the selling side of the equation. Here are the (previously) unwritten etiquette rules sellers should follow to show their home\u2014and themselves\u2014in the best possible light.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Leave<\/strong><br \/>\nSure, you\u2019re dying to know if prospective buyers will love what you\u2019ve done with the kitchen, but Realtors\u00ae agree sellers should not be there lurking in the shadows during an open house or showing.<br \/>\n\u201cBuyers don\u2019t feel as comfortable when the owner is at the home watching their every move,\u201d explains Nicholas Kensington of Scottsdale Real Estate. \u201cGet out of their way so that they can start to picture themselves living there instead of being spied on.\u201d So take a powder. Or at least hide.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Take your pets with you<\/strong><br \/>\nYou think Humbert is the cutest labradoodle ever, but not everyone is bound to share that opinion. In addition to having allergies, some home shoppers may not be in the market for a run-in with an animal they don\u2019t know.<br \/>\n\u201cImagine, as a buyer, having the background music set to \u2018barking dog\u2019 while you are trying to take in the home\u2019s nuances that you, as the seller, have worked so hard to hone,\u201d says Brenda Hayward, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker. \u201cTo say nothing of the stress it puts on your beloved pet. Take your mutt for a car ride, to the dog park, or for a long walk. It will do you both good.\u201d<br \/>\nBetty Clark, who claims an \u201cirrational fear of birds,\u201d says she was shocked by how many open houses she ran from due to unexpected tweeting and chirping from caged and uncaged feathered friends. Don\u2019t alienate would-be purchasers by forcing your pets on them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Move your car<\/strong><br \/>\n\u201cMake it easy for visitors to park and view the home,\u201d Kensington notes. \u201cNo one likes parking issues. Having them is a sure way to get a viewing off to a bad start.\u201d In fact, if potential buyers have to park a block away and walk, they may just skip taking the tour of your home. Or if they\u2019re willing to make the hike, they may be in a lousy mood by the time they enter your home. Why risk it?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Lay out important documents<\/strong><br \/>\nIf questions arise while buyers are on the premises, it may help them decide to put in an offer that much faster if they can find answers quickly and in writing.<br \/>\n\u201cLeaving necessary documents in an easy-to-find spot isn\u2019t just good for selling, it\u2019s also good selling etiquette,\u201d says Kensington. \u201cPut out the home inspection report, appraisal, home warranty, monthly bill information\u2014gas, oil, electric\u2014and proof of any major repairs are all good things to let people look through when they are considering buying your home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Offer some refreshments<\/strong><br \/>\nHouse hunters can get parched and peckish. You can help!<br \/>\n\u201cPutting out a few small bottled waters in a small bowl of ice is always appreciated, along with some light, easy grab-and-go sort of refreshments like mints or cookies,\u201d says Cara Ameer, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Be patient waiting for feedback<\/strong><br \/>\nOf course, you\u2019re dying to know what buyers thought of your home, but that information may not flow back to you instantaneously. Buyers often want to process what they\u2019ve seen and think it over before making an offer. If one comes through, don\u2019t worry, you\u2019ll hear about it!<br \/>\n\u201cIt is reasonable to ask for feedback from your Realtor after the showing, but understand it may take a day or two for the buyer\u2019s agent to respond,\u201d Hayward says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Don\u2019t be greedy<\/strong><br \/>\nWho doesn\u2019t want top dollar for their home? But an unwillingness to negotiate can kill a possible deal and keep your home on the market long after you were hoping to be unpacking at your new place.<br \/>\n\u201cFocusing on your bottom line is always important, but greed can lead to disaster. Remember a little of something is better than a lot of nothing. Generosity will lead you to your promise land,\u201d says Josh Myler, a Realtor with The Agency.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Listen to the professionals<\/strong><br \/>\nIf your Realtor has some suggestions for improvements that may help sell the home faster, take them to heart but don\u2019t take them personally.<br \/>\n\u201cDon\u2019t shoot the messenger,\u201d says Caroline Gosselin, a Realtor with Sotheby\u2019s Prominent Properties. \u201cKeep emotions out and listen to what a licensed, trained, professional has to say about the house, be it a Realtor or an inspector. It\u2019s immature and unmannerly not to be able to take criticism and be able to move on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.realtor.com\/advice\/sell\/home-seller-etiquette-rules\/?iid=rdc_news_hp_carousel_theLatest\" target=\"_blank\">8 Unwritten Etiquette Rules Every Home Seller Should Know<\/a> by Liz Alterman | realtor.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re trying to sell your home, you\u2019ve probably scrutinized it, staged it, and scrubbed it down from floorboards to rooftop as if the folks from Architectural Digest were stopping &hellip; [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2016\/01\/8-unwritten-etiquette-rules-every-home-seller-should-know\/\">read more<\/a>]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-real-estate"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>8 Unwritten Etiquette Rules Every Home Seller Should Know &#8226; 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