Access is Key to Getting Your House Sold

So, you've decided to sell your house.  You've hired a real estate professional to help you with the entire process and you've been asked what level of access you want to provide to potential buyers.

There are four elements to a quality listing. At the top of the list is Access, followed by Condition, Financing, and Price.  There are many levels of access you can provide to your agent to be able to show your home.

Here are five levels of access you can provide to a buyer, each with a brief description:

• Lockbox on the Door  This allows buyers the ability to see the home as soon as they are aware of the listing, or at their and their agent's convenience.

• Providing a Key to the Home  Although the buyer's agent may need to stop by an office to pick up the key, there is little delay in being able to show the home.

• Open Access with a Phone Call   The seller allows showing with just a text or phone call's notice from the Buyer's agent.

• By Appointment Only  Example: 24-hour notice. Many buyers who are relocating for a new career or promotion start working in that area prior to purchasing their home. They often like to take advantage of free time during business hours (such as a lunch break) to view potential homes. Because of this, they may not be able to plan their availability far in advance or may be unable to wait 24-hours to see the house.

• Limited Access  Example: the home is only available for a couple of hours a day, or only on a couple of days during the week. This is the most difficult way to be able to show your house to potential buyers.

In a competitive marketplace, access can make or break your ability to get the price your are looking for, or even sell your house at all.