TIPS FOR SHOWING THE HOME - Texas Best Homes: Southlake, Colleyville, Grapevine, Keller, HEB, Arlington, and surrounding cities. Relocation Information.

At the proper price there's a buyer for every house. Be ready when they arrive.

FIRST AND FOREMOST - Do the items on "Preparing the Home for Market" page.
If you skip that step, this list is the equivalent of rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
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LIGHTS / ILLUMINATION - Turn on ALL the lights. Really. Closets & all. Open drapes, level blinds so you can see out. Builder models are like this every day for a reason.

SHOULD I BE PRESENT?- NO. If humanly possible, do not be present during showings. A buyer will feel like an intruder & hurry through if someone's there. We want them to linger. Some even try to solicit repairs or terms. When possible, let them look with just their agent present.

IF YOU ARE PRESENT - If you can't be away... be courteous, but don't force conversation. It is NOT in your interest to show them the house personally. Let the agent handle their buyer. A gracious exit is to suggest you were just off to the park with the pup. Go for a walk while they look.

MUSIC - Turn on soft music (radio/ CD/ cable/ intercom). You may normally listen to stuff that could sterilize frogs at 100 yards, but go with quiet background music like smooth jazz for showings.

PETS - Keep 'em out of the way... preferably outside or at Mom's. [I'm a "critter" guy; horses, dogs, cats, a goat... but this is business. If Rover & Fluffy want a new home, they can do their part.] A barking dog (large or pint-sized) can literally add many months to the market time.

AN OASIS - Texas summers are HOT. While the home is on the market, keep it unusually cool. Buyers enter with relief, and remain longer. In cold weather... keep it toasty.

SCENT - Give the house a light pleasant fragrance. Possible tools: Glade Plug-ins / Potpourri / "Carpet Fresh" / Air freshener / Febreeze / Candles. Builders use Otis Spunkmeyer cookies ("home" smell, done in 15 minutes, leave 'em out with a note for a nice touch). Vanilla (heated) works too. NO incense. If using candles, don't forget to put 'em out before leaving..

Bottom line... The buyer is comparison shopping. The house will sell if it's what they want, so don't try to "work" the buyer. Put the effort into preparing the house for a successful showing instead.