Dear Realtor,

My house is on the market and the feedback I'm getting from Realtors is that my house isn't 'easy to show.' Can you tell me what makes a house easy to show?

Thanks,
— Getting Anxious

Here is a list of things you can do to make your house easy to show:

• Flexibility of allowed showing times is an important factor. If a house can only be shown between 3pm and 7pm or not shown on weekends, iIt may be hard to fit the house in when planning for showings to a particular customer who also has time constraints.

• Sellers should allow for the use of lock boxes (key boxes) at the house. If a showing Realtor needs to get the keys from the listing Realtor and return them after a showing, the house might be passed up due to the extra time required.

• Have pets in a specially designated area which is clearly marked at the house and on the listing sheet. Both Realtors and customers are sometimes afraid to enter houses with pets who are not in a designated area and may try to protect the house.

• Leave some lights on, especially those lamps in dark corners, so the house will appear as bright as possible.

• It is always easier to show a home when the sellers are not present. Buyers will not be forthright with criticism of the house with the owner(s) present. Buyers comments (which the Realtor can pass on to the seller) can prove valuable and help make the house more saleable.

• Always have your valuables put away, out of sight.

I hope you find these tips helpful!
— Your Realtor

Dear Realtor,

My husband and I are empty-nesters now and we are considering downscaling. We simply don't use all the space that we needed with three growing boys. Our question is, should we sell our house before purchasing another, risking not finding something that suits us perfectly, or should we buy first and hope that our home sells quickly? What is your advice?

Sincerely,
— Puzzled

This is always a hard question, and a very personal one. There are both financial and emotional concerns to consider.

My advice would be to consult a mortgage lender first to identify your financial capabilities in the event that your home does not sell as quickly as you might need if you decide to buy before you sell. I would then investigate the real estate market where you would like to live next. This way, when you are ready, you will have a better understanding of the inventory of homes that are suitable to your needs in that area, how much they cost, etc. With this information on hand, you will be in a better position to make an intelligent decision about whether you should sell before you buy or vise versa.

The least amount of risk is to sell your home first and then buy. It may even mean renting for a bit while you find a new home to purchase, but perhaps this will cause less stress and financial drain than owning two homes at once.

Best of Luck,
— Your Realtor