Showing Feedback: The Seller’s Favorite Love-Hate Relationship
Part of my “Thinking About Selling?” Series for Homeowners from Richmond to Virginia Beach
If you’ve ever had your home on the market, you know the routine: strangers parade through, peek in your closets, make sure your pantry is organized (thanks, Marie Kondo), and then vanish. Later, you wait for “feedback” as if it’s Yelp for your living room.
Spoiler alert: the feedback is usually vague, useless, or nonexistent.
Why Feedback Is Like Bad Dating Advice
Here’s the thing about feedback: buyers form an opinion of your home faster than most people swipe left on Tinder. If they don’t like it, they’re not writing a novel about why. Their agent might toss out a gem like “wasn’t a fit” or the all-time classic: “buyer chose another home.” Translation? “It’s not you, it’s me.”
And let’s be honest—many agents would rather wrestle an alligator in Colonial Parkway traffic than tell you your wallpaper looks like it time-traveled from 1987.
The Feedback That Actually Matters
At the end of the day, the best feedback is whether or not someone writes an offer. Everything else is just background noise. If buyers don’t bite, it usually boils down to three things:
- Other homes stole the spotlight. Yours wasn’t the prom queen this time.
- Price. Buyers may love your granite countertops, but they don’t love them that much.
- Lifestyle mismatch. Your “fixer-upper charm” might scream HGTV project, but not everyone’s ready to audition for Flip or Flop: Williamsburg Edition.
The Exposure Myth
One of my favorite lines from sellers is: “Maybe the house just isn’t getting enough exposure.” Trust me, your home is plastered on every real estate site known to mankind. If a serious buyer is looking, they’ve seen it. Probably twice. The problem isn’t exposure—it’s the appeal. (Or, let’s be real: the price tag.)
How I Decode the Silence
Instead of chasing down other agents like an over-caffeinated hall monitor, I look at the market signals:
- Showings but no offers? Buyers are flirting but not committing. Time to rethink.
- Crickets? Either the price is too ambitious or the buyers are all at Busch Gardens.
- Other homes flying off the shelf while yours lingers? The market just passed a silent judgment.
Final Thoughts (a.k.a. The Tough Love Section)
Feedback is nice when you get it, but don’t build your strategy on it. The real question is: did someone try to buy your house? If not, the market has already given its review—no comment necessary.
Selling a home is part art, part science, and part tough love. My job isn’t just to pass along lukewarm notes from other agents; it’s to help you read between the lines and adjust accordingly.
About This Series
This post is part of my ongoing series for homeowners thinking about selling a home anywhere from Richmond to Virginia Beach (and, of course, right here in Williamsburg). Each article tackles one of the big questions sellers have — from “Do open houses actually sell homes?” to “What’s the deal with Zillow pricing?”
So stay tuned. If you’re planning to list in the next few months, consider this your crash course in what really happens when you sell in today’s Virginia market.
Meet Your Local Guide: Mr. Williamsburg
I’m John Womeldorf, better known as Mr. Williamsburg—your snarky-but-honest Realtor® in Greater Williamsburg, Richmond, and Hampton Roads. I’ve been at this for over 20 years, and trust me, I’ve seen every flavor of “feedback.” My specialty? Helping buyers and sellers cut through the noise, find the right home (or buyer), and maybe even laugh along the way.
Curious what your home is really worth in today’s market? Ask me here.
You can call or text me anytime at 757-254-8136 or email me at John@MrWilliamsburg.com.
Warmly,
John Womeldorf
A.K.A. Mr. Williamsburg
