Showing Etiquette

Looking at houses for sale can be one of the most fun parts of the home buying process. It can also be stressful in a tight, fast-paced market such as the one here in Lawrence, KS. And we often find that buyers have questions about what they're allowed to do in someone else's home. Can you open cabinets or closets? Go in the attic? Get on the roof? Use the bathroom? 

Keep in mind that for each home we enter, we are an invited guest. The Golden Rule applies at all times! Every home should be considered sacred. Here are some tips, ground-rules, suggestions and best practices to keep in mind:

• Showing up on time is a must! We must also stick to the showing window we've been granted. Other agents may be scheduled before or after us. In Lawrence, showings are default exclusive during the showing window unless otherwise specified by the listing agent. Respect for others is best policy.
• It is generally accepted that the only viewers of the home are the decision makers themselves and their agent. 
• Always be mindful of one's surroundings. Watch out for mud, pets, and be sure to get a sense of the neighborhood. Drive the neighborhood and feel free to talk with neighbors who may be out and about. 
• If children are coming along, keep them within eyesight at all times. Kids love other people's furniture (trust us, we know). It should be admired with eyes only!

• Wear shoes that are easy to remove. Many home owners prefer buyers to take off shoes or wear protective booties. If you look as ridiculous in booties as we do, plan to remove shoes if possible! 

• While in a home, R+K Real Estate is tasked with the security of the premises. It is our responsibility to secure the home after a showing. We may double-check doors, windows, and locks on the way out.
• Feel free to open cabinets, drawers, and closets. These are attached to the home and and are part of it. Dressers, nightstands, free-standing cabinets that aren't included, and any other furniture or personal property of the seller is off limits. 
• Opening windows and doors is OK, and so is flushing toilets and/or running a faucet or two. However, it's a showing not an inspection. Just keep it reasonable.
• In the event a big repair is obvious, a contractor/inspector can be brought along. For example, if there's obvious foundation work needed and a buyer wants to know more about condition and costs prior to making an offer, this is perfectly acceptable with notice given to the listing agent. 
• While an attic accessed via a staircase or pull-down stairs is generally acceptable to explore, any spaces without solid floors and/or tight spaces should be avoided. There is too much risk trying to walk on ceiling joists and no one wants someone to fall through a ceiling. Yes, this has happened. 
• Ditto for roofs. There is no need for getting onto a roof during a showing. Crawlspaces are up to the buyer. We will not go into a crawlspace. If you want to, provided there isn't an obvious risk to safety, feel free to get as dirty as you like! 

• For safety’s sake, we will maintain our presence behind you, the Buyer. We are not as familiar with all Buyers, so we will plan to stay behind you while answering any questions and allowing you to view the property on your own time.

• Assume you are on camera at ALL TIMES! Cameras are everywhere these days. When in a home you should assume that you are being both video and audio recorded the entire time. Be careful what you say. You may inadvertently give away information about your intentions to a seller. 

• If you walk into a house and immediately know it’s not for you, there’s no rule that says we have to stick around as a courtesy. We can move on to the next one!

• As we go, please provide us feedback on each house. It’ll help us narrow your search and to relay the feedback to the Listing Agent.