It’s time to put your house on the market. As a seller, you meet with a few different Real Estate Agents. Surprisingly, they all show their listings differently. Let’s go over the different ways a listing can be shown, so you know what your options are.
*Please be aware that these opinions are for real estate listings in South Florida. Every area runs uniquely for real estate.
The Listing Agent Shows
Pros: The listing agent knows the house well and can highlight the property best. They can talk about all the great features that a buyer’s agent wouldn’t know about the property. Sellers often like the idea that someone is watching over the property when they are not there.
Cons: People run late. It happens. Other showings run longer, people get stuck in traffic, and so on. Showings can go poorly if the listing agent is running late, or worse, can’t make the showing. Or, if the buyers are late and the listing agent has another appointment, their showing time is cut short. Sometimes buyers feel more timid around the listing agent, not wanting to show their true emotions. A good Realtor will have other customers, but that means that they won’t be able to be available for all showings.
Open Houses
Pros: You get a lot of people coming in to see your house. You can get feedback from a lot of buyers at a time.
Cons: Most people that are looking at open houses are there for shopping and curiosity. It’s fun to look at open houses! But more often than not, most people walking in there are not even qualified to buy the property. In fact, Open Houses are great for Realtors to get buyers for other properties. Since there are a lot of people through a house at once, many people have safety concerns since you can’t monitor all of the people at once.
Lockboxes
There are 2 types of lockboxes. One is an electronic lockbox, which means that only Realtors can access them. An electronic log is kept, so your Realtor can monitor who is going in and out of the property. The other lockbox is a basic coded lockbox. You can get those at any hardware store. That means that anyone can use the code to get in. I always recommend using electronic lockboxes.
Pros: Having a lockbox on a property ensures that the property will be shown more often. You don’t have to worry about people running late or taking too long. It allows buyers to take their time discussing the property with their Realtor, without anyone else being there. Buyers tend to take longer in a property with a lockbox, because they can talk more openly.
Cons: The buyer’s agent knows nothing about the property. So, there could be a concern that the buyer’s have about the property, and with no one there to discuss it with them, they might think it’s worse than it is, and no longer consider the property as an option.
Lockboxes can be a great selling tool, if used correctly. A lockbox does not replace a listing agent. The listing agent should still schedule the showings personally, telling the buyer’s agent everything about the property. Then after the showing, the listing agent calls the buyer’s agent to follow up to see if they have any further questions about the property.
The Seller Shows
Sometimes, the seller wants to be there for showings. It is an understandable request, since they feel uncomfortable with strangers going through their property.
Pros: The seller knows their property best, and they can answer questions from the buyers while they are there. Many sellers work from home, so they are going to be there anyway. However, I do recommend that if a seller wants to be there for showings, they open the door for the buyers with their agent. They should introduce themselves, and then say that they will be outside, taking the dog for a walk, or working in their office. The buyers should come to them if they have any questions, or they can answer any questions for them when they are finished viewing the property.
Cons: Sometimes the seller wants to show the house personally. On some occasions, a seller can do it well. But most times, they get very emotional, prideful, and often overbearing towards the buyers. This can be a big turnoff to a buyer. And sometimes the seller starts talking about contract and negotiations, when they should leave that to the Realtors.
There is no definite right or wrong way to show a property. You need to discuss these options with your real estate agent to determine what is the best fit for you, and what is the best way to get the most amount of activity, to sell your property.