If you have listed your house with a realtor, chances are she(he) will want to host at least one Open House. This is an opportunity for the public to preview the home. As the seller, you may want to stay during the Open House, since you know the house better than anyone else. Bad idea! An Open House will be more successful if the sellers are away. Here’s why:
> Buyers need to be able to wander throughout the house for as long a period as they want. In fact, the longer they stay, the more likely that they have some real interest in the home. However, most buyers will feel uncomfortable wandering around the home if the owners are present. Instead they’ll take a quick look and then leave.
> Buyers need to be able to talk among themselves about what they like- or do not like- about the listing. This is critical to the process of them deciding whether a particular house could actually be their new home. But again, most buyers will be hesitant to speak candidly in the presence of the home owners for fear of offending them.
> Buyers may want to ask the realtor questions about the property, the neighborhood or terms of the sale. If the sellers are there, some buyers may avoid addressing these issues on the spot.
> Most sellers are not accustomed to having strangers in their home so some may seem stiff and unfriendly, while others may be talkative and overly familiar. In either case, the seller’s demeanor may be distracting to buyers, who then focus on the seller’s personality instead of the features of the home.
No doubt it is inconvenient for you, the seller, to have to vacate your home for 3 hours or more for an Open House. However, if you are committed to moving and want to sell quickly, this is an opportunity to give your home added exposure to potential buyers. Once a date has been set, don’t sabotage the effectiveness of the Open House by insisting that you are going to stay. Your realtor wants to sell your home just as much as you do. Trust her(him) to act in your best interests even in your absence.