This is a question that I get asked quite frequently….  Usually it’s more along the lines of, “I’m not supposed to be here when you’re showing my house, right?”  And the answer is “YES, that’s right.”  Now before I explain, there are times when there are extenuating circumstances, and you just can’t leave your house.  For example, if you are injured and can’t easily leave your home or if the showing is confirmed at the very last minute, and you have already scheduled a conference call and you have to be in front of your home computer.  In those situations, it is fine for you to stay.  But it is always much preferred if you, as the seller, aren’t there during the showings.  This way the buyers feel relaxed, and they can think, act and speak without restraint and constraints.  Furthermore your not being there allows them the freedom to better imagine possibly living in your home one day.  If you are there, it puts them on edge – they very well may become more preoccupied with the fact that you are there than really looking closely at your house and determining if it’s the right one for them.

Another question is, “Can my dog be there when you show the house?”  That is a question that you can better answer than we can.  Is your dog friendly?  Will he become agitated when strangers come into the home?  Will he jump up on the buyers?  (As an aside, cats are a bit different because they usually hide in the house and are never seen during showings anyway.)  Generally it’s better if dogs (and possibly other pets depending on the type) aren’t there or if they’re put into a crate.  Again, it’s a distraction for the buyers, especially if the dog gets out of the house when the buyers are entering and runs away or if he growls, jumps on or looks menacingly at the buyers.  If any of these situations happen, the buyers will likely remember the dog more than the house.  And it probably won’t be a positive memory.

“What about my housekeeper?  Can she be there?”  This is okay, but again, the bottom line is that it’s better that the house be empty so the buyer has the freedom to explore it and is not distracted from the house by the other people or animals in it.  But of all, the housekeeper being there is probably the most innocuous.

And remember – as much as possible – try to accommodate every showing that you can.  Often a showing time may not ideally fit into your schedule, but be as flexible as you can.  If you say “No” to the showing, it often turns out that the buyer will not schedule another time to see it.  The buyer might decide that, after thinking about it, the street is too busy…or that the living area of the house is not large enough.  Now you’ve lost your chance to have this buyer see your house – the buyer has already eliminated your home, sight unseen.  It’s better to “strike while the iron is hot” as they say – so do whatever you can to facilitate any potential buyer’s viewing of your home.  And we all know that the more buyers that come through your house, the better the odds that one of them will fall in love with it and buy it.

Finally, when it comes to the inspection, it’s also best not to be there.  In fact, it’s much more imperative not to be there during the inspection than during a showing.  The home inspection process often constitutes a home sale getting closer to the finish line – assuming that no major, earth-shattering issues arise.  This is the time for the buyers to learn more about your home, which theoretically is about to become their home.  It also allows them another opportunity – and a lengthy one at that as most home inspections last approximately three hours – to further envision themselves living there one day.  If you are there, it can be extremely awkward – mostly for the buyers but also for the inspector too.  This has only happened to me once, and it was a situation in which the seller was also the listing agent.  But even then it was awkward for everyone involved….

So I’m curious to hear your thoughts.  Have you wrestled with these questions as a seller?  And/or have you had any of these scenarios happen as a buyer?  I can’t wait to hear….