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House Showing Formalities and Etiquette


House Showing Formalities and Etiquette


Are you a buyer wondering what a showing will be like, or a seller curious on what happens while a prospective  buyer is in your home? Let's go through showing formalities and etiquette to answer some of your questions!


Let's start at the beginning- 

When a buyer sees a home online that they'd like to view in person, they will contact their real estate agent to schedule a showing. To request a showing, the buyer's agent needs to either reach out to the listing agent/seller's agent directly, or schedule their request through a showing service- whichever the listing agent prefers. Once confirmed with the seller, the listing agent will give access information to the buyer's agent and let them know they are good to go.

With each showing confirmation there is a set of instructions for the buyer's agent to know. Sometimes the instructions may have notes for the buyer's agent to point out to their buyers while walking through. It could also be requests for the agent to do or even for everyone to do. For example, they may tell the agent to leave lights on or for everyone to remove their shoes upon entry. 

Showing Time-

Showings are usually anywhere between 15 minute timeslots to an hour depending on the size and the complexity of the property. On average, we see 30 minute timeslots requested.

Arrival-

Make sure to arrive at your confirmed timeslot. Don't be more than 10 minutes early unless the time change is confirmed with the seller ahead of time. If running late don't just show up anyway. It is important your agent confirms with the seller's agent to make sure the seller is okay with the change.

Formalities and Etiquette while touring-

If you have a person or two with you, please all stay together. Your real estate agent will walk you room to room and will be sure to point out any material defects or other items necessary. Make sure that you ask your real estate agent any questions you have on the property to get the most information while you are walking through. If there is something they can not figure out or have information on, they will contact the listing agent/seller's agent to find out from the seller.

Please refrain from sitting on the seller's furniture. It is not allowed to go through/open the seller's personal property which should be a no brainer. The only doors you should be opening are to the rooms, cabinets, and closets. All of those items that are staying with the property, you are allowed to see how deep/large they are for reference.

Do not take off the electrical panel cover to see the wiring, do not open the door to the furnace/boiler, don't turn up or down the heat or air conditioning- leave all of that for the home inspector to do. 

You can flush the toilets or run the water if you would like. Some buyer's are curious on the water pressure.

If you open doors or try out a window please be sure your agent knows so they can secure the doors/window when leaving.

Try to keep your conversations about confidential information such as offer strategies, or criticism to a minimum in case there are camera's on and recording.  




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