Aug 31 2009
How many times must the buyer visit?
It's not an unusual question for a seller who has a buyer under contract. When they list the house for sale, the seller alters their lifestyle to accommodate multiple people viewing their home at all hours of the day and night. When a buyer is under contract, it's a relief. Privacy at last! However, a new round of visits begin, as the buyer has inspections, an appraisal, relatives, contractors, and a final walk through as they prepare to make the house theirs. Seller begins to wonder when it will ever end, and wants the buyer OUT of the house!
Rule of thumb (for buyer's agents) when the house is occupied, discuss in advance with your buyer the etiquette of visiting the house, and group your visits to make the most of everyone's time. Unexpected events will come up, and there may be need to schedule one more trip, but an experienced agent and buyer can accomplish most of their needs with a total of three to four visits before the close of escrow. This will help immensely with the buyer-seller relationship. It's hectic for both parties, so buyer's agents — help your clients plan in advance and assume the sellers would like the least amount of interruption possible.
Visit one - See the house for the first time.
Visit two (after the offer is accepted) - Group your inspections (ie., home, pest, roof) for one morning or afternoon and, if you're thinking of remodeling, bring in your contractors to bid.
Visit three - The appraisal - use this as your backup time if there are further inspections needed or you need one more thing that can't wait until the walk through. However, rarely will you have a much, if any, warning when the appraiser is coming. Most appraisers prefer to not have buyer, seller, or agents present during their visit.
Visit four - The final walk through to verify home condition approx. the week escrow closes. If your seller has kindly made time to review the property's features and show you the how-to's, respect their time. It's not required that the seller meet with you, so if they offer, be considerate. Most sellers aren't present for a walk through, and if so, use this time to measure the refrigerator space, doorways, windows for new window treatments, dimensions for carpet, etc. Invite parents who have been dying to see the house you're buying, and give them a tape measure so they can be of assistance.
Selling or buying a home is very exciting and stressful for all parties. Buyers are excited about their new home and want to start planning before the dust settles. Sellers have just as many details to coordinate and moving is extremely stressful. Buyers camping out across the street pointing at the house and yard for hours each weekend, or walking by with relatives in tow will only add to the stress.
