Have you ever searched homes for sale in Santa Clarita, and the seller was home? If they were home, did they follow you throughout the entire home tour? Did they become the de facto real estate agent… even if yours was there with you? If this happened to you, how did it make you feel?

Dear Santa Clarita Home Seller – Don’t Be A Hawk!

This doesn’t happen that often, but when it does, my clients tend to be rather mute and non-expressive. They typically don’t feel like they can sink themselves into the property to figure out if they like it or not.

As a seller, you don’t want to turn off home buyers. And this tactic of being the tour guide when they already have one (their agent) could mean a lost sale if the buyer can’t identify with your home.

I understand, you know your home better than your own Realtor, and better than the Realtor who’s bringing in a group of home buyers… you are proud of your home and want to show off the benefits first-hand. Regardless as to whether that sounds logical and makes sense, you still want to avoid being a hawk. More often than not, the home buyers don’t want you circling around them.

If you must… ok… be home for the tour. But leave the buyer(s) alone to roam about as the please with their real estate agent (their guide). Be alert and ready for any questions the buyers or their agent may want to ask of you, since your home. This would be absolutely okay, but don’t start going off on a tangent above and beyond answering their question.

I do in fact have buyers that have actually appreciated the seller being home to answer their questions, such as, how the seller liked living there, or a question about the local school. It can actually work out such that it’s a benefit that your home. Just remember, don’t be a hawk!