With showing season upon us, I am getting calls from property owners who want to rent their homes since they can not sell them. I frequently go to vacant properties to preview them and THE BLINDS ARE CLOSED.
Now, I often meet prospects at vacant rental homes and so I can get there early to spray my Carpet Fresh, turn on the lights, put Spic/Span in the toilet tanks and flush them 1x - about 5 to 10 minutes of prep time.
If I had prospects driving right behind me or riding with me as we viewed properties, hurrying in FIRST to open blinds so that their first impression was the BEST one would rarely happen.
So my question is why do people who leave their homes during showings ALWAYS close the blinds?
If the property was VACANT, leaving the blinds OPEN allows more light AND is better if there is a break-in as the police will be able to view the inside of the property easier. If the property is OCCUPIED, then occupants coming home to a closed up home would be depressing.
Lastly, if the blinds are closed, were do the cats go to sleep between showings?
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
Central Virginia
LandlordWhisperer
View our available Charlottesville, Albemarle and Lake Monticello rental homes online with photos and floor plans
"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous
Thanks again for sharing, good info and keep up the good work.....
Wallace,
I am a blinds open kind of gal. I agree wholeheartedly and do the same things - running around opening them, so the clients can see the house to the best advantage.
All the best, Michelle
You betcha! This little act of open blinds makes alot of difference! It is awesome you made a point of putting this tid bit out there as it makes sooo much difference!!! Thank you! Keep up th sharing!
Wallace... I TOO like light! Many folks don't THINK like you do... that's why you are good at it and another reason they NEED you.
I, also wonder why. I recommend leaving them open. "Well, people might drive by and peek in..." If that is not a good occcurence we need to work on the property a bit more.
Wallace I really like your new picture.... shows your beauty!!!!
YES they do! I had one big old house with huge heavy drapes and the seller insisted all drapes be kept closed. If an agent opened the drapes, the woman complained. We had to check the house after showings to make sure all drapes were closed and each door was either open or closed as her instructions.
Diane * I realized I had on the same blue as my background and my husband took it this AM * thank you!!!
Hello Wallace and a very interesting post, thanks for the read!
VB ;-)