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Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Seems that most find or recommend waiting until the property is vacant, but that can depend on the particular tenant. As Michael Jacobs pointed out I, too, have seen some homes maintained by tenants that were gorgeous, and some owner occupants that, well, live pretty sloppily.

I know a number of sellers who have used incentives sucessfully, and I recomment that IF the tenant is not going to be out soon and the seller does not want to wait.

Mar 12, 2015 10:20 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

I think that it is a good idea to give the tenant an incentive to more.  A home shows better when it is clean and staged.  We saw a home that was tenant occupied, and the tenant was following us around .  I found it very uncomfortable. A

Mar 12, 2015 08:09 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

It is always easier and more efficient to have the tenant gone and the place vacant.

However, that is not always practical or possible. After all, this real estate may be investor quality and having a tenant in place is an asset beneficial to the seller and easy for the buyer.

I would advise the seller to create incentive to encourage the tenant to cooperate and based on my evaluation, the tenant will benefit or will be denied. 

Of course I will have a meet up with the tenant, get a read on their situation, and plan the most convenient strategy for them. I want them to know they are important part of the plan and their agility and co-operation will not go unrewarded.

Mar 12, 2015 02:25 AM
Rainmaker
66,912
Peter Tamura
Coldwell Banker Select - Tulsa, OK
BANNOCHIE TEAM

I think it depends on whether the tenants keep the home in a  presentable condition.  Have the seller sit down with the tenant and ask for the tenants cooperation to sell the house.  The tenant on occasion may not want to move and sabotage the sale.  I would consider an incentive to the tenant for allowing them to show the home with less than 24 hour notice.

Mar 12, 2015 01:29 AM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Bribe them, offer an incentive for helping you to get a full price offer.

Dec 13, 2019 08:45 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

The best bet is - tenants move out. Provide the incentive to the tenants.

Jul 26, 2018 09:15 PM
Rainer
279,878
Dipti Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
On a team with Praful Thakkar

This is difficult - with tenants in the property. Yes, better to wait until tenants move out.

Jul 21, 2018 09:28 PM
Rainmaker
938,537
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

We are about ready to list several duplexes that the seller wants the tenants to stay in place so I was hoping to hear some good incentive stories for tenants who reamined for the duration of the sale.  Jill has some good ideas that could help.

Mar 18, 2015 11:01 PM
Rainmaker
554,600
Francine Viola
Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, Olympia WA - Olympia, WA
REALTOR®, In Tune with your Real Estate Needs

I agree the most of the other posts - if the seller can have the property listed without the tenants, that is best.  And sometimes sellers have to be prepared to give "cash for keys" if they need to move the tenant out quicker.

Mar 12, 2015 07:22 AM
Rainmaker
604,145
Jonathan Hall
William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty - Danbury, CT
Realtor - Danbury,CT Area Real Estate~203-417-0523

I would like the home to be vacant, cleaned up and repaired before putting it on the market

Mar 12, 2015 07:09 AM
Rainmaker
474,492
Bill Dandridge
MKB, Realtors - Roanoke, VA
GREEN, ABR, GRI, EcoBroker

It is a much better idea to wait until the tennants move out, but one incentive that could be provided to the tenants is to have a reduced rent if they keep the property in show-ready condition each day.

Mar 12, 2015 06:53 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I believe it's much better to wait until the tenants move out.  If this isn't possible then an incentive or even setting up a new rental for the tenants can be of help.

Mar 12, 2015 06:12 AM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

If it works for the Seller to wait then I always suggest waiting until the tenants are out and we can do some nice staging for the property. It the Seller needs a quicker sale or continued income while it's listed then giving the tenants a strong incentive (usually reduced rent or a bonus upon sale) helps. One thing that makes things smoother is grouping showing schedules as much as possible so the tenants are less inconvenienced.

Mar 12, 2015 05:20 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Jeff -- a good real life question.

I recently had this discussion with a client and we discussed various options including waiting as well as offering an incentive.

In this particular example -- he is waiting until the tenants vacate -- not great furnishings,  not the best housekeeping plus a big dog along with a couple of other issues.

I have seen examples of tenants maintaining a property in better condition than some owner occupants.  

It depends but overall I think having a tenant vacate the property is usually the best plan.

Mar 12, 2015 02:22 AM
Rainmaker
443,220
Cindy Davis
SD Home Source Realty - San Diego, CA

In my experience, it's much easier to sell oncea tenant vacates. Relying on tenants to allow showings and keep a home in showing condition is not always easy. If tenants are present, and you wish to have them show, I always encourage offering a financial incentive for the inonvenience.

Mar 12, 2015 01:47 AM
Rainmaker
400,356
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA
Movoto - Laguna Niguel, CA

In most cases, think it's best for the tenant to vacate the property.  It's also understandable for the property owner to want to continue to make money on their asset.

Providing an incentive to the tenant(s) for their cooperation is an option, but it is imperative that there is no reduction in rent, which will likely cause the tenants to attempt to stall the sale.

Any incentive should be given only after proof of cooperation and at the time of move out.

Mar 12, 2015 01:42 AM
Rainer
368,326
Raoul Loustaunau
EXP REALTY - Phoenix, AZ
urhomefinder.com myvaluetoday.com

i think is better to wait till they move out if that's not an option; the seller should give some incentive to the tenant if they are helpful to sell the property

Mar 12, 2015 01:21 AM