If you’re getting ready to sell your home this spring, one of the first conversations you’ll have with your agent will be about how much information you want to give buyers. You may not realize how important it is to make your home easily visible. Spring is peak home buying season, so opening your home to as many showings as possible will help you take advantage of all the extra buyer activity you see this time of year.
Competition for buyers increases in the spring, so buyers will want to move quickly to view homes as soon as they find one. And you’re more likely to get the offer you want on your home if you see it and fall in love with it in the moment, knowing you’re competing with other buyers.
It’s understandable that you’ll want to minimize disruption to your schedule, and while it can be stressful to keep it clean, it’s worth it. The Investopedia article explains:
“If someone wants to view your house, you need to accommodate them, even if it inconveniences you. Clean and tidy the house before every single visit. A buyer won’t know or care if your house was clean last week. It’s a lot of work, but stay focused on the prize.”
Your broker will guide you through the options below to decide which one is best for you. This list starts with the items that are most useful to the buyer and as the list grows, it becomes less and less focused on buyer.
Cabinet inside the door – Keys can be accessed through the lock box, making it easier for agents to show your home to potential buyers. This gives you the most flexibility because the keys are on-site and convenient.
Home Key Delivery – This option requires a representative to come to your office to pick up your keys. It’s still very useful for effects, but it’s not that simple.
Public access by phone call – We only allow showings with a phone call, which is great for people who see your home while driving.
By appointment only – we give you advance notice so we can clean your house and have somewhere to go in the meantime. But it is also somewhat limited.
Limited Access – If you want your home to be available only on certain days or at certain times of the day, you can go this route. But understand that this is the most difficult and least flexible option. As stated in the U.S. article News Real Estate:
“Buyers like to see homes on their schedule, which often means evenings and weekends. Plus, they want to be able to tour a home soon after they find it online, especially if they’re competing with other buyers. If your home can be shown with little or no notice, more prospective buyers will see it. If you require 24 hours’ notice, they may choose to skip your home altogether.”
Your agent will help you find the right route based on your schedule and what works for other sellers in the area. If you’re struggling to provide more access to buyers or are interested in out-of-town buyers who can’t visit in person, agents can get creative and offer video tours, virtual showings, and more. This will help you explore other options such as: .