Home Buyer Etiquette
If you’ve recently sold a home, you’ll probably have many thoughts to contribute regarding home buyer etiquette. There’s nothing like trying to fit in a home showing when you have to transport kids to sports activities, cancel an appointment and get the dogs out before a prospective Buyer shows up. Home Sellers must keep their home as “show ready” as possible while it’s on the market, then jump through a few hoops to accommodate showings. Here are a few etiquette items for home Buyers to consider.
Give your Realtor as much notice as possible with a list of homes you’d like to see. The more notice you give us, the more notice we can give the Seller. We need to map out properties if we are going to see several, and some Sellers will request more notice than others. Mapping sometimes needs to be rearranged to accommodate everyone’s schedules, so the more notice you give your Realtor, the smoother the day of shopping will go.
Hire a babysitter for the kids. I know your children are adorable, but it’s difficult to see a house and make sure your four year-old is not disturbing personal items that belong to the Seller. Do you really want to be liable for a crystal vase that gets knocked over?
Lunch. If it’s going to be a long day of shopping, let your Realtor know if you want to plan for lunch – and decide ahead of time what would be your preference, so your Realtor can map around that. Or, if you are okay eating on the run, I am always happy to pack almonds, grapes, string cheese and bottled water – items that are easy to eat in the car in between houses. Please bring bottled water or your beverage preference.
Be punctual. Please don’t text to let me know that you’re running 20 minutes late. I have mapped our homes, scheduled appointments, and Sellers have plans to go to a neighbor’s home or a park to be out of the house for a showing. It’s never fun to start the day by alerting everyone that we’re getting a late start. Emergencies occur, and we understand that, but please place as much importance on these appointments as you would any other.
Wear shoes that can be easily removed. Occasionally Sellers will ask that shoes be removed prior to touring – or you just know that you’ve got a bit of grit and dirt on the soles of your shoes. Be on the safe side and wear shoes that can easily be removed as a courtesy to the Seller.
Let’s turn off lights together. If a Seller is home and expecting us, they usually turn on lights prior to our arrival. It is courteous to turn off lights as we go.
Allow me time to properly lock up. If the alarm needs to be set before I lock up, I need you to wait in the car or on the front porch while I shut the front door and arm the alarm system.
House-hunting can be a fun and exciting experience. The better prepared we are, the more we will enjoy it. A little home Buyer etiquette can go a long way in making the task more productive and exciting.
If you are interested in shopping for homes in the greater Tulsa area, you can start a search here, or call me to set up a custom search for you! 918-852-5036
Content written and published by Lori Cain.
