Learn More About Top Sellers Real Estate Agent and Sellers Real Estate Agent Expert Oceanside

Show and tell

It's part of a realtor's job to prep houses for potential buyers to view and take clients to home showings. Typically, it's all pretty routine. But sometimes, well, these visits don't go quite as planned. While a listing agent may be tasked with putting a home's best foot forward in an effort to score top dollar for the seller, there may be a hiccup or two that they never could have anticipated when home shoppers walk through the door. In other instances, the sellers are a little too attached to what is about to become their former home and insist on being present at the showing, which can lead to all sorts of awkward moments and funny stories.

This awkward moment from is enough to make any seller check that the coast is clear before taking a potential buyer for a tour of the house. One particular afternoon, we received a call from a homeowner who insisted we come over to view a house he wanted to sell. We walked around the exterior and then made our way indoors. He went room by room opening bedroom doors, but when he swung the master bedroom door wide open, his wife had just gotten out of the shower and was changing! She screamed. He laughed, and I turned away as if there was nothing to see. We continued to tour the property, and she emerged a few moments later, fully clothed. We actually ended up buying the house despite the awkward tour.

Going to check out a home? Maybe avoid using their restroom. The most awkward moments I have encountered personally and heard of from my colleagues all involve a client going to the bathroom during the showing. While each story started in the bathroom, the embarrassing end result has had a few different results. One time, a client used the restroom and never flushed, leaving the owner (who was a house flipper) to find a surprise when they checked in on the property. Another time, the client used the restroom and actually clogged the toilet but didn't say anything and it wound up overflowing. Some repairs had to be made.

How do I prepare my home before I sell it?

When preparing to sell your home, the first thing to do is make it presentable. This means giving the entire house a thorough cleaning and making small repairs.

Mop the floors, scrub the bathrooms, and get rid of all the grime in the kitchen.

Little things like patching holes in the wall, changing burned-out lightbulbs, and repairing broken appliances can make your place stand out in a crowded market.

And don't forget about paint returning the walls to a neutral color can help your house sell quicker. White, creams, and grays can make rooms seem bigger and help potential buyers see themselves living there.

If you're not moving out before listing your home, you'll also need to depersonalize and declutter.

Put away your family photos, knick-knacks, and other personal items. You may need to rent a storage unit if you don't have a place to put them all.

How long will it take to sell my home?

On average, a house takes between 55 and 70 days to sell. That includes 25 days on the market and 30 to 45 days for closing.

The exact time it takes to sell a home depends on a few things, including:

• The time of year you're listing: Homes tend to sell faster in the spring and early fall.
• Conditions in your local housing market: Homes sell faster in a seller's market, when there is low inventory and high demand.
• The condition of your home: Homes in great condition may sell faster than homes that need more work.
• How the buyer is financing: If a buyer needs to take out a mortgage, this may slow down the process. Financing deals usually take an average of 42 days to close, whereas cash deals take only one to two weeks.

The longer your home is on the market, the more money you lose. You'll still have to pay your mortgage, taxes, and utilities until the buyer officially closes.

To avoid this, there are some things you can do to help your home sell faster.

You can make impactful repairs, like adding new carpet or painting the interior. However, if it's a seller's market and homes are selling quickly, you might not need to make these repairs.

You can also set a competitive price with the help of a top real estate agent.

Clever Real Estate's partner agents sell homes faster than the national average with lower commission fees.