BOULDER, CO, Apr 26, 2024—Those who have put their home on the market before know it can sometimes take time to find the right buyer. Occasionally, it will take a lot of time. So how do you go about living in your home when it's listed? Below, Phil Boren, Broker Associate of RE/MAX of Boulder, Inc. offers insight.
Keep it clean. “Once your home is available to be shown strive to keep it in tip-top shape,” says Boren. While this will require a lot of effort on your part, it's important to understand that buyers need to feel welcomed and not turned off by unmade beds, cluttered floors, and grungy bathrooms.
Stay flexible. When your home is on the market, you have to realize that your life will be temporarily inconvenienced. “When you get a call at the last minute about a buyer wanting to come by, respond favorably,” Boren recommends. Remember your goal is to get the home sold, and that can only be accomplished if people get to see it. “Flexibility is the key to a quick sale,” Boren stresses.
Plan not to be present when buyers pass through. “While you might like to be around to greet potential buyers, it is awkward and unsettling for them to have the owners present,” says Boren. If you cannot leave, sit in the backyard. Do not attempt to have conversations with the buyer. Speak only when spoken to; be brief and polite.
Pay mind to the pets. If you have dogs, take them with you when you go out, or keep them tied in the backyard. “Be mindful of pet odors. Nothing turns a buyer away faster than a home that smells like kitty litter,” says Boren.
For more information on real estate, please contact RE/MAX of Boulder, Inc. at philboren@gmail.com, 303-441-5647, or RE/MAX of Boulder, Inc..
Phil Boren is a 26-year veteran real estate Broker and Realtor, specializing in consulting with buyers and sellers in Boulder, CO and along the Front Range of Northern Colorado. Held Real Estate Broker's license in Texas, California and Colorado; Managing Broker for over 200 agents and Brokers for Century 21 and RE/MAX franchises. Award-winning Realtor with experience in management, sales, marketing, relocation, appraisal, REO, BPO's, foreclosures, short sales; previously held the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute. Experienced in both residential and commercial real estate and achieved the No. 14 individual ranking in the 5-state, Mt. States Region for RE/MAX International in 2001, based on sales volume. Received my BSBA in Finance and Real Estate from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he was a 4-year starter and 4-year football letterman for Hall-of-Fame coach, Lou Holtz.