Lucy Corry
While visiting a family in Samoa recently, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, “There is nowhere more sacred than your home.”
Welcoming visitors is one thing, opening it up to complete strangers is another situation entirely.
When you are selling a property, you get to decide how the Open Home process is run.
If you are working with a real estate agent, this will be part of the Marketing Plan that you agree with them before signing the Agency Agreement.
The real estate agent will advise you on the timing and frequency of open homes, or any other viewings. If there is anything you are uncertain about, talk to the agent and make your feelings clear.
There is no law that compels you to have open homes – you may decide that you would rather have viewings by appointment only.
Viewing homes for sale
Real Estate Authority (REA) Chief Executive Kevin Lampen-Smith said that people must see a home that is for sale.
“You may have to be flexible on when viewings are held, even if they are not particularly convenient,” he said.
If you are selling privately, you have full responsibility for running any viewings.
This can be time-consuming and has the potential to be distressing if you are not braced to hear other people’s criticisms of your property.
Some private sellers get a friend to help out for this reason.
Mr Lampen-Smith said that when it comes to the marketing and selling process of your home, it would be a good idea to look at things from the perspective of the real estate agent and any prospective purchaser.
Record of interest
“Open homes often attract people who are just browsing to see what is around, or neighbours who have always wanted to see what ‘that house at number 10’ is like. The agent will report to you after the Open Home event the level of interest – if they have kept an electronic or paper record of visitors, it will give you an indication of how many visitors were sticky beaks from down the street,” he said.
Safety and Cleaning
Mr Lampen-Smith said that in an ideal world, people treat your home with respect when viewing it.
“If you suspect they will need reminding, request that the agent asks visitors to remove any wet weather gear or shoes before entering. Most people go on a major cleaning, tidying and de-cluttering mission before putting a property on the market, which will make it much easier to prepare it for an open home. It is a good idea to clear away any valuables or personal items (if time is short, dump them all in a washing basket that you can pick up and take with you) and use your own common sense about what you want strangers to see,” he said.
Some Don’ts please
Do not shove things into cupboards or wardrobes – prospective buyers will be keen to gauge storage capacity. Remember that families with small children could be going through your property and delicate ornaments or family heirlooms might be better out of harm’s way.
Selling a property can be a stressful time, but you will make it much easier on yourself if you work out a Plan, including getting the advice of professionals.
“Present your home well and it is more likely to attract another set of owners,” Mr Lampen-Smith said.
Lucy Corry is Media Communications Manager at the Real Estate Agents Authority based in Wellington. For independent advice, please visit www.settled.govt.nz.
*Photo :
- Kevin Lampen-Smith (Supplied)
- Open Home (Image Courtesy: Radio New Zealand)
