Being a real estate agent can be a lucrative and enjoyable profession. Having the opportunity to help families live their dream of owning a home is a moment that you likely won’t forget. Helping homeowners in their effort to quickly sell their home as they move elsewhere can be just as satisfying.
But, with all of the benefits associated with being a realtor, there are also many responsibilities. Being a real estate agent is not easy, and even experienced realtors make mistakes at times. To help make sure you avoid these mistakes, here is a look at some of the more common mistakes that you need to avoid when showing a home.
Not Checking Out the Home Before Showing It
One of the biggest mistakes that even experienced real estate professionals make is that they do not check out the home before showing it. This becomes an issue because, in many cases, there may be small problems with different aspects of the home that could have easily been taken care of if you would have just made the effort to look everything over.
Things like replacing old smoke detectors, changing out dead lightbulbs, and emptying trash bins can all be taken care of in just a few minutes. While these may seem like petty issues, they can be a huge turnoff to potential homeowners that are likely making the biggest purchase of their lives.
Not Staging the Home
Another major mistake that many real estate professionals make is that they avoid staging the home before a showing. According to a survey by LearnVest, 80% of realtors recommend home staging.
The reason for this is simple; you want to put the potential buyer in a situation where they are imagining themselves living in the home. When the home is bare and features nothing more than badly positioned furniture, it’s going to be difficult to get the buyer to have a positive outlook on eventually living there.
Studies have shown that the return on investment for professional staging can be as high as 300%. If you’d rather handle it on your own to save money, you shouldn’t have much trouble finding resources to help with DIY home staging.
Not Focusing on Smell
When someone intends to buy a home, they generally have a long list of reasons for doing so. Maybe it’s close to their place of work or has a nice view. Maybe their family is growing and a bigger home is necessary. Or maybe they’re just looking for something that is more comfortable and appealing.
While, as a realtor, you would be wise to focus on these conscious selling points, finding subconscious opportunities can be just as effective. When you’re showing a home to a potential buyer for the first time, one of the first things that they’ll notice is the smell.
Unlike our eyes, which judge little more than the visual appeal of the home, smells can trigger memories. They can also coax emotions, especially when those smells are associated with a past event. If you really want to create a homely environment with a positive smell, bake chocolate chip cookies or cinnamon bread.
As a real estate professional, avoiding these big mistakes can help ensure that you aren’t sabotaging yourself when showing a home. It can also help you sell your homes quickly, which is the goal of any realtor.
