Guide to Showings

This is a handy reference of important information to know before we view homes together:

• Sellers expect buyers to be preapproved when viewing their home (it wastes their time to pack up and leave a home if the buyer is not serious or doesn’t know if they can afford the home).

• Sellers normally require a 24-hour notice before a showing appointment. They may also put other limitations around the times their home is available to show.

• Wear comfortable slip-on shoes because we may be asked to remove our shoes in some homes. 

• Dress for the weather as some sellers do not clear their driveways and driveways/walkways may be wet, icy, or muddy.

• Please refrain from using the restroom in the home and plan accordingly. Vacant homes may not have the water turned on, PLEASE inform me if you need to use the restroom!

• Vacant homes may not have any utilities turned on. 

• Focus on the property and not the furnishings. 

• In most cases, you will be buying a used home. It will not be perfect, so take a look at any cosmetic wear and tear and make sure you’re comfortable with it before placing an offer.

• Please avoid touching furniture and personal items as we do not want to be responsible for anything breaking.

• Please keep children close and remind them not to play with toys or anything they see in the home.

• The home inspection comes AFTER an executed contract. During a showing, we should not be going in the attic or crawl spaces or turning on/adjusting appliances and mechanicals.

• Unless otherwise indicated, televisions, curtains, appliances, and anything else that would fall out of a house if you tipped it upside down are NOT included with the sale of the home. 

• Please keep conversations about the home away from the home. Many sellers have Ring doorbells and other recording devices both outside AND inside the home. Be aware of what you say and do and never discuss what kind of offer you want to make on the home, etc. We can discuss that after our showing. 

• If the sellers are home during the showing, be careful about how much information you reveal. It could hurt during the negotiation process. 

• Do feel free to take photos of the home so you can remember the property or if there are items you may want to include in the sale (appliances, sheds, etc). Please do not take photos of children’s rooms or personal items that are of no relevance to the purchase of the home. 

• Do bring a notebook or your phone so you can take notes about what you like or dislike about the home.

• Do bring snacks and drinks if we’ll be viewing more than a home or 2, but please refrain from eating and drinking in the home.

Ready to connect? Reach out! I look forward to helping you on this journey!

► Go to Step 6

Monique Hanson is a REALTOR® serving the greater West Michigan area. Monique helps people buy and sell homes in Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa Counties. You can contact Monique by calling or texting 616-805-9177 or emailing hello@moniquehanson.com.