Nooooo… Not Today

MIKE BUDER

Ok, perhaps I’m being a tad dramatic, but this is a plea to all the anxious home sellers out there: STOP DECLINING SHOWINGS! I have recently been on both sides of this issue, and in both cases the cost of the declined showing outweighed any benefit the seller might have perceived in passing on the appointment. ON THE BUYING SIDE: I had a pre-approved buyer that was motivated to purchase quickly. I had three homes to show, and gained entry to only one. The evening ended with us in a darkened front yard, in a light rain, wondering why I got a text message canceling the appointment. My buyers were frustrated and wondering out loud if the sellers wanted to sell. ON THE SELLING SIDE: Some sellers today are understandably anxious. We often speak of pricing, escalating mortgage rates, nearby sales activity, competing listings, strategy and all the other nuances of adding honey to our marketing to attract the buzz of a buyer. And no fewer than two of my sellers declined showings last week. “There wasn’t enough notice”. “The place is a mess” or “it’s a bad time”. I don’t dispute that showing your home is sometimes inconvenient, uncomfortable and troublesome but honestly, unless there is a steaming pile of dragon dung in your living room you really need to “assume the sale” the way a good salesperson does and open the door. I have said it before that outside of a wedding or a funeral in your living room, you need to allow showings to proceed. I have sold houses when we walked past guests from out of town, college students crashed all over the floor on semester break and barking, foaming at the mouth dogs. I still sold them! Because if it feels like home, THEY BUY! Even if people are putting on warm coats and galoshes in December a week before Christmas to look at your home, they are probably serious. Let them in! Increased mortgage interest rates have affected the affordability of homes since a year ago and qualified buyers are becoming too rare to squander over convenience or discomfort about housekeeping.

If you are looking to buy or sell real estate call Mike Buder at RE/MAX 10 (708) 418-4444, E-mail: mikebuder@remax.net, Website: www.BuderHomes.com. Facebook Friend request Mike Buder: your comments are always welcome.

Mike Buder A local Christian Businessman