Importance of Availability & Where to Go While Your Home is Getting Shown

Above: Virginia Beach Marriott Oceanfront, where Adam & his wife stayed for 5 nights primarily from a single sign-up bonus on a credit card which they combined with Platinum Marriott status for free breakfast. Image courtesy Adam

In this article, I'll be going over the importance of showing flexibility as well as some strategies for sellers to consider.

Image courtesy Showingtime

1. Occupant Showing Flexibility Can Have a Significant Impact on Market Time & Price

Many sellers don't realize how showing flexibility can make or break their home selling experience. More flexibility means more showings and more showings means more offers and better offers. The more flexible you are with showings, the better, as long as you are able to keep your home in good order before you leave.

2. Keeping the Home in Good Order

If you happen to stay overnight somewhere, it's ideal to check on the property & clean anything that might need cleaning at least once every day or 2 while it's being shown for the 1st week when you see confirmed showings. If only 1 showing has been scheduled, ask Adam prior if the buyers/agents actually showed up though before making a trip to your home if you are staying elsewhere.

3. Where Can Occupants Go Overnight for Days if Looking to Maximize Their Flexibility During an Initial Period After Listing w/ a High Volume of Showing Requests?

Some sellers who realize how important showing flexibility is and who don't want the inconvenience of leaving home at a moment's notice for that optimum flexibility will even leave town to go on vacation, rent a nightly vacation home, rent a room via AirBNB or another platform, rent a camper, go camping (see VA map of free locations below), stay at a local extended-stay hotel, use CouchSurfing or similar, or stay with friends/family just so that they can put their home in optimum flexibility for showings.

If you are looking to stay somewhere locally freely or go on vacation, and Adam's your agent, feel free to ask him about travel hacking, one of his specialties. He may be able to guide you in how to get somewhere freely, especially if you are doing so long in advance of putting your home on the market, you are open to getting a new credit card, and your credit is >760. Most travel expenses Adam incurs for housing and transportation are free or at drastic discounts, and some of his meals are typically provided for as well, whether he's staying at somewhere of low cost or somewhere of higher cost like the Ritz Carlton Central Park where he did his 1 year anniversary. Adam's had great staycations with his wife in locations typically with points or free night certificates in Norfolk (Glass Light Hotel), Williamsburg (Williamsburg Lodge & Marriott Manor Club at Ford's Colony), Virginia Beach (Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront), & Richmond (The Jefferson).

Related: Free Virginia Camping Locations, Including Some Shelters on the Appalachian Trail (Note - free application with Wildlife Management Areas sometimes required)

4. Where Can Occupants Go During the Day if Looking to Maximize Their Flexibility During an Initial Period After Listing w/ a High Volume of Showing Requests But Looking to Sleep at Home?

While you could plan out actual things to do, another option is to simply take a laptop, Chromebook, or similar to a location with comfortable seating, free wifi, and outlets. If your phone can provide wifi, even better.

There are really a number of options, but university libraries that are publicly accessible are one of the best options if looking for somewhere to go that's free and that has longer hours than typical libraries. Christopher Newport University Library in Newport News, Old Dominion University Library in Norfolk, & Regent University Library in Virginia Beach are some local examples. For meetings in libraries, it's sometimes possible to secure a free conference room.

Another good low-cost or free option is local community centers. For instance, for Newport News residents, community centers like Denbigh Community Center are freely accessible for most of the centers for Newport News residents. You could spend time working out outside on the outdoor equipment with shades while watching your kids on the playground.

Here are more examples of free or low-cost locations where you might "camp out with a laptop."

For additional amenities, many of which are free including things to do, go to my map that I've started on the subject here:

If there's an area where you'd like me to add more, just let me know, but in the meantime, feel free to use Google maps where I don't have currently solid coverage.

Paid options are available via co-working spaces. For instance, Gather, which has a number of co-working spaces in SE VA, has a $95/mo option with 4 day passes included.

Image Courtesy Brick Underground

Image courtesy Showingtime