5 house showing tips for real estate agents

Some houses are so spectacular in terms of their floor plan, curb appeal, and upgrades that they practically sell themselves. However, for the majority of home showings, a real estate agent will have to work harder to entice potential buyers.

Here are some tips that will enhance the house showing experience and lead to more sales.

Follow new guidelines for open houses

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdown restrictions created a new normal for Realtors. These guidelines may stay with us for some time, so it’s important to follow them closely.

Technology is more important than ever before, as open houses must go virtual. That’s made them more restricted, too. Invest in good video and drone footage to aid in your home selling efforts. These tools can help you deliver a virtual open house that homebuyers can enjoy from the comfort of their homes or on the go using their iOS or Android mobile devices.

In some areas, you can provide potential buyers with in-home showings again. Be prepared with a process that you, as either the listing agent or buyer’s agent, can follow to ensure the utmost health and safety for all. This means having a written policy for walk-throughs. The National Association of Realtors has an extensive guide for addressing this situation with home sellers and home buyers.

Be ready with research and answers

Whether you’re showing a house to first-time buyers or hosting an open house, you need to have a wealth of knowledge. This includes being able to answer questions about the house, the neighborhood, and the surrounding area. If open house attendees are new to the area, they may have numerous questions about the city, schools, crime rates, and even the weather.

Other questions from potential buyers may focus on the home’s asking price and whether it’s in line with other recent sales. It’s a good idea to pull those comps from the MLS Multiple Listing Service Listings and have them available. Buyers will do their own research on Google and sites like Zillow and Redfin to check out real estate photos, but they value the expert perspective of the Realtor representing them about whether or not their offer is fair.

Create a ready-to-buy vibe

First impressions are everything for potential buyers, from curb appeal and the front door to the interior. Everything must work together to make them feel at home. As the seller’s agent, collaborate with your clients to create that great first impression. This usually means helping them transform the house from their personal castle to a blank canvas that buyers can see as their own.

It’s especially important for sellers to declutter the home, including packing up personal effects like photos, art, and knickknacks. Hide the trash bins and light a candle or use air fresheners to create a pleasant vibe. Some realtors even offer freshly baked cookies or pie.

Staging the home is ideal, especially if the house is already empty. This helps buyers visualize furniture placement and room use during a showing.

Make it an enjoyable experience

If you’re showing your buyers multiple listings, prepare so that they can enjoy the search for their dream home. Of course, most buyers conduct research in advance because there are many sites that share virtual tours and real estate information. Ask your buyers what they want in a home, including their budget and their expectations. Ask them to show you examples of listed properties and features they like.

This will help you prepare a straightforward route and schedule for the showings that pleases your buyers. If possible, tour the homes in person or online beforehand to prepare. Speak to the seller’s agent and make sure your schedule fits the seller’s time frame to leave during the showing.

Make sure you have all the lockbox codes. You don’t want your buyers standing around waiting while you struggle to get into the house that they are so eager to see.

Follow up on all house showings

Whether you represent the buyer or the seller, a follow-up is important to assess the potential of an offer and determine the next steps for the purchase or sales journey. On the buyer’s side, it may mean a different direction for future properties. For the seller, it might involve making further changes to the home to improve the house showings. Whether you’re selling or showing a new home, an existing home, or a mobile or manufactured home, these house showing tips can help you close more deals.