Should the Seller be Present at the Open Home?

If you’re selling your home and plan to host an open house with the help of your realtor, you may be wondering if you should be around for the experience. You might be tempted to stay in your home and follow around potential buyers to answer any questions they might have, but since this is technically your realtor’s job, you might want to second-guess that decision. While some homeowners have had success selling while sticking around for the open house, there are quite a few compelling reasons not to.

Potential Buyers Will Take More Time:  When a buyer is looking through your home, he or she wants to take as much time as necessary to think about the space and how it might work for them. Your potential buyers don’t want to feel rushed, but if you’re there hovering around while they look, they might think you’re trying to hurry them through the process. They might start to wonder if you have an appointment to get to or some other reason why you need them gone, and they won’t be thorough in their inspection of the home. This can lose you offers, so it’s best to just stay out of sight and out of mind while someone is looking at your house.

Questions Can Open a Conversation:  It’s true that buyers could potentially ask you questions if you’re at home during an open house, but it’s also true that they can ask these questions of their realtor or yours at a later time if they’re interested. And, as a matter of fact, if a potential buyer relays a question to you through realtors, this can open up a conversation that may lead to an offer. It’s far better to answer these types of questions later and keep your buyers interested than to offer quick responses during an open house and then have nothing further to discuss with buyers.

Buyers Won’t Feel Uncomfortable:  The biggest reason to stay away from home during an open house is to be sure your buyers don’t get uncomfortable with the process. They need to feel relaxed and have a positive impression of your home. If you come across as impatient or pushy, they’ll think negatively toward your home and be less likely to want to do business with you, too. You’re much more likely to have offers on your home after an open house if you stay away—even if you just go to the coffee shop down the street.

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