Why not be there when the agent is showing your home? I could give you dozens of reasons!

First off, house-hunting is hard work. Buyers want to concentrate on the property, without stopping to relate to you. Falling in love with a house is like falling in love with a person, and three's a crowd.

Your agent knows that, and will say very little while showing the house. In fact, the silence might un-nerve you. You'd be tempted to dash forward and interrupt with "This is a closet!" while the buyers were mentally placing their dining-room furniture -- an important moment no experienced broker would interrupt.

With you around, buyers are inhibited about opening closets, stroking banisters, inspecting your oven, performing all those get-acquainted gestures that are the equivalent of kicking the tires on a used car.

And you might be surprised by how upsetting a stranger's random comments on your home can be.

If you're not there, buyers are more likely to voice objections, which your agent is trained to handle.

"This is pretty small for a bedroom."

"Yes, it is." (no point in denying it.) "But maybe it would be just right for your computer and the fax machine."

"Hey, you're right. Bud, come look at this. We could have an office!"

Then there's the simple problem of crowding. A good agent knows how to manage things without jamming up the stairway, and won't enter a small bedroom with the buyers.

Agents like to start and finish with the nicest room in the house. There's a real art to showing your home to best advantage. You're paying for professional help -- might as well take advantage of it.

And I wish you good luck.

Published: March 22, 1999

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Editor's Note: This article reflects the opinions of Edith Lank only and not necessarily the views of this or any other publication, organization or Website owner.