When it comes to selling your home, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is how much access to give potential buyers. On the one hand, you want to make it easy for them to see the property and envision themselves living there. On the other hand, you need to balance this with concerns about privacy and security. Let’s explore some of the factors you should consider when deciding how much access to give potential buyers to your home.
- Stage your home for viewings
Before you even begin to consider how much access to give potential buyers, it’s important to make sure your home is ready to be viewed. This means staging your home so that it looks its best. Make sure that the house is clean and clutter-free, and that any personal items like family photos or religious items are put away. You want potential buyers to be able to picture themselves living in the home, and that’s harder to do if the space is cluttered with your personal belongings.
- Remove anything of value
I always tell my clients to remove anything from the home that has any amount of value, that being financial or sentimental. Do not just put it away in a closet or a drawer, but remove it from the property entirely. Why risk something being taken, broken or misplaced. If it means something to you, get it out of there. Special note: DEFINITELY remove all firearms!
- Set specific viewing times
One option for managing access to your home is to set specific viewing times. This allows you to control when people come to see the property, and it can be easier to manage if you have other obligations like work or family commitments. You can work with your real estate agent to set up a schedule that works for you and potential buyers. With many sellers working from home these days, getting clarity on this is key.
- Allow open houses
Open houses can be a good way to generate interest in your home and potentially attract multiple buyers at once. However, they can also be more chaotic and harder to manage than individual viewings. Something a lot of people don’t think about is it does give buyers a second chance to see the home after their first showing. Oftentimes, this is a benefit but you want your buyer to be extra sure they dig the property.
- Use a lockbox
Unless you’re at a higher price point, use a lockbox to allow potential buyers to access the property. This allows potential buyers to view the property without needing you to be present, but it’s important to make sure that the lockbox is secure and that only authorized people have the code. My experience is it’s generally a mistake for sellers to request their agent is there. It makes the buyer less able to express themselves and gives a generally less comfortable feel when viewing the home. You want a buyer to feel like a future homeowner and not a visitor.
asksethanything.com 
Leave a comment