You’ve heard good real estate agents talk about how to prep your home to get it sold, how the first physical visit by a prospective buyer is actually the “second” showing, if it was marketed correctly on the internet with high quality photos, photos and more photos, how condition of the home is as important as location in today’s market. 

So if you’re a seller and you’ve completed this check list, what is the next key element?  That would be: making your home as available as possible for showings to buyers. 

If the house can’t be shown, it won’t be sold and will linger, adding to days on market.  And, statistics show that the longer it is on the market the less the seller receives in proceeds.  

It is not uncommon for buyers to have a bulk list of homes to visit in one day.  You’ll want your “for sale” home on their “to do” list!

Here are a few things to apply to the overall plan for selling a home.

Allow buyer’s agents as much access as possible. Just because you are having an open house on Sunday doesn’t mean they should come see your home on that day if the buyers can only see it on Saturday.  It’s best that sellers are not present anyway when the home is being shown to buyers.  This allows the buyers to take their time in viewing your property. Often times, buyers feel rushed if the seller is home.  

If security is an issue, take some preventive steps to put things of value elsewhere if you are concerned.  You can require that buyer’s agents showing your home are members of the Montgomery County Association of Realtors (or other association of realtors).  Member realtors live and work by a code of ethics.  If the agent is not a member, you should still allow the showing, but perhaps you stick around to meet the agent, ask for their business card, then leave. 

There are a couple of different types of lockboxes that usually meet the needs of every seller, some being electronic that only realtors can access.  Also, when making an extra key for the lockbox, ensure that it works properly.  There is nothing worse than arranging an appointment for a showing than getting there and not being able to get in because the key is not cut right for the lock.  (Your agent should do this too).

There are very understandable circumstances where you may want select hours for home showings, like sellers who work 2^nd or 3^rd shift and need to sleep in the daytime.  In this case, a detailed timeframe of available hours for showings should be mapped out and adhered to.  Again, this should be as open as possible.

Pets should be no problem. Houses are sold everyday where cats, dogs, iguanas and other types of animals live.  What’s important is having a plan.  There can be a room specifically for the pets during showings or the use of crates.  Most buyers understand this and many are pet owners themselves or want to be pet owners, hence the desire to buy a home to have the freedom to do so. 

When sellers provide full access to their home, they get more showings, which translate to offers.  And once you’ve accepted an offer and your home is pending sale, you can breathe easy and get back to a more normal schedule with fewer demands. 

Every Wednesday at noon, the Scott Loper Team of Re/Max Realty Group in Harleysville offers some sage advice to potential and current homeowners in our area.  The Scott Loper Team includes Scott Loper, Lisa Loper and Gina Wherry, Re/Max Realty Group, 439 Main Street, Harleysville, PA 19438, 215-256-1200.