What to Expect When Selling Your Home and What Happens After It Shows:

Selling a home can be a complex process, and understanding what to expect when potential buyers visit your property can help you navigate this journey more smoothly, without anxiety or stress.

Here’s what you should know about showings, feedback, and communication.

The Home Showing Process

When your home is listed for sale by Dan, interested buyers agents will schedule showings to view the property. Buyers not working with an agent could also contact Dan directly to see the home.

During these showings, buyers and their agents, will evaluate the home’s condition, location, and features to determine if it meets their needs and expectations, and then compare it to other homes nearby also for sale.

Communication and Feedback

After a showing, you may eagerly await feedback on how the potential buyers perceived your home. Here’s what you can typically expect:

• Feedback Timing: It’s common for feedback to take a few days. While some agents provide feedback promptly, and many agents may not offer any at all.

• Feedback is great to have, however the number one indicator of interest is 2-4 or more showings a week, and or questions and offers from buyers agents.

• Feedback is not instant.

• After a showing, sellers often anticipate immediate feedback. However, it's important to remember:

  1. Time for Reflection: Potential buyers may need time to reflect on the property before providing their opinions.

  2. Agent Schedules: Buyer agents have busy schedules and might not be able to provide immediate feedback.

  3. Detailed Responses: Thoughtful and constructive feedback often takes time to compile.

• Imagine you are a buyer's agent who has just shown five homes, and on the same day, every seller's agent is reaching out through calls, texts, and emails seeking feedback. Just like Dan, those agents do not earn an hourly wage or a salary until a house is sold. Therefore, giving feedback to sellers about a buyer's disinterest, of your home, is not a top priority for them.

• Tip: Patience is key. Allow the buyer's agent some time to gather valuable insights.  Real estate success often hinges on the ability to discern when to act swiftly and when to exercise patience.

• Dan has already setup feedback requests:  Dan has setup, through the showing service to send out three staggered emails to the buyer's agent requesting feedback. Once any feedback is received, it’s automatically shared with Dan, the listing agent and you, the seller.

• Feedback request email is sent out immediately after a showing, then every 3 days another feedback request email is sent out, until a total of 3 feedback requests have been sent to the showing agent.

• If we don’t get any feedback after 9 days and 3 email feedback requests, the buyer is typically not interested in your home.

• No feedback is feedback.

• It's not uncommon for sellers to expect feedback after every showing, but:

• No Feedback Isn't Always Negative: Sometimes no news simply means the buyer has decided to move on without specific reasons.  At times, the reasons behind a buyer's decisions may not hold enough significance for them to disclose to you, the seller. Please - Embrace this reality.

• Focus on Patterns: If feedback is consistently missing, focus on the comments you do receive for patterns or common themes.

• Avoid Immediate Calls to the Showing Agent:

• While it's highly tempting to call the showing agent immediately after a showing, consider the following:

• Perception of Desperation: Immediate follow-ups can give the impression that you're overly anxious or desperate to sell.

• Signs of Interest: If a buyer's agent contacts Dan with questions about the home, it often indicates genuine interest and is the best type of feedback.

• The primary concern that frequently arises in the feedback is mentions of condition or pricing issues.

• Condition = Price.

• Floorplan layout is not what the buyer wants.

• Location could also change for the buyer too.

Handling Communication

Communication between Dan, your listing agent and the buyer's agent is a crucial part of the selling process. Here’s how to handle it effectively and strategically:

• Role of the Listing Agent: Dan, your listing agent is your representative and will handle most of the communication with potential buyers and their agents. 

• Questions about offers or regarding the property are key indicators of interest.

• Initiating Contact: Having Dan, your listing agent reach out directly to the buyer's agent for feedback does not necessarily make you appear desperate, but it typically does to some seasoned agents, like Dan.

• Ideally, the buyer or buyers agent is initiating contact to Dan, not the other way around.

• It’s similar to dating, but different.

• If the other date contacts first and immediately, it often sends the wrong message...

• No Feedback: If you don’t receive feedback, it’s often because the buyer was not interested. It's important to remain patient and trust these true and tested strategies.

• Acknowledge and accept that the prospective buyer who viewed your home is simply not interested.

Here are some points to consider:

• Prepare Your Home: Ensure your home is clean, well-maintained, and free of clutter. Make necessary repairs and consider staging to highlight the property’s best features.

• Schedule Flexibility: Be prepared for showings at various times, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate different buyers’ schedules.

• First Impressions Matter: Curb appeal is crucial; ensure the exterior of your home is as inviting as the interior.

• How the house smells: A fresh and inviting aroma can significantly impact a buyer’s perception of your home. Consider these tips to ensure your house smells pleasant during showings:

• Natural Scents: Opt for subtle, natural scents like fresh flowers, baked goods, or a gentle citrus aroma. These can evoke feelings of comfort and warmth.

• Ventilation: Open windows to let in fresh air, especially if the home has been closed up for a while. This helps eliminate any stale odors and keeps the atmosphere light and airy.

• Avoid Strong Fragrances: While it might be tempting to use air fresheners or scented candles, strong artificial scents can be overpowering and may not appeal to everyone. It’s best to keep it simple and natural.

• Pet Odors: If you have pets, ensure that their areas are clean and free of odors. Consider using odor-neutralizing sprays to keep the home smelling fresh.

• Creating a welcoming olfactory atmosphere can enhance the overall experience for potential buyers, making them more likely to envision themselves living in your home.

Conclusion

Selling a home involves various stages, from preparing for showings to managing communications and interpreting feedback and interpreting no feedback also.

By understanding what to expect during these interactions, you can make informed decisions and adjust your strategies as needed.

Remember, patience and flexibility are key components in the home-selling process.

Pricing is our largest marketing tool. 

Let me repeat, pricing is our largest marketing tool.

The asking price serves as our most significant marketing strategy; however, you, as the seller, hold the reins on that strategy. What list price are you considering, and does it align with your objectives for marketing your home effectively?

If we are not getting 2 - 4 showings per week, the market is speaking and what the market is saying is the asking price is not matching the public buyer demand.

It ultimately boils down to showings and offers. While feedback can be valuable, it often addresses issues related to condition and price that we are already aware of, about 99.9999% of the time.