"Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.." Peter Drucker "Fortune favors the brave." Virgil, 1st century poet "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." Thomas Jefferson
If you want to sell your house or condo, you need to make it as
convenient as possible for potential buyers to view. That's a
given. The market can move fast these days, and you don't want
home shoppers and their agents to move onto other interesting
opportunities just because they can't get in to see yours.
So how do you make your property available for viewing, while
minimizing the inconvenience to you and your family?
One of the most effective ways to ensure ease of access is to
put a lock box near your front door. This allows agents to show
your property as soon as they hear from interested homebuyers
- striking while the iron is hot.
Without a lock box, an appointment would have to be
scheduled. The delay could stifle buyer momentum. Worse,
many home shoppers may skip your property in favour of
others they can see right away.
Rest assured, REALTORS® are professionals and will respect
your privacy and the security of your property. Working with
your REALTOR®, you can set rules regarding when and under
what circumstances they may enter for viewing. (For example,
"Tuesdays to Thursdays, 12pm-3pm & Saturdays 10am-4pm".)
When potential buyers visit, they often feel like intruders. It's
awkward for them - and you - if you are at home. So, if
possible, take your family to the park, a movie, or a local coffee
shop during scheduled viewing times.
Another great strategy is to plan viewings around your
schedule, at times when you're out of the house anyway. If you
take your kids to soccer on Saturday afternoons, make your
property available for viewing during that same time period.
With a little planning, you can maximize the number of
viewings, with minimal inconvenience to you and your family.
This will greatly increase your chances of selling sooner, and for
the best price.
Need more tips on showing your home? Call today!
In most communities, garbage day isn't
every week. So, if you show your house on
day five or six, there's going to be some
accumulation! Here are some things you can
do before a viewing to make sure this
situation doesn't trash a potential sale.
- If possible, make sure all garbage
containers, including waste paper
baskets, are empty.
- Since compost and cat litter bags can
smell even when tied securely, put them
in a covered bin in the garage or outside
at the side of your house.
- Check around your property for
accumulated debris, such as old lumber.
If you've been planning a trip to the
dump someday, today is that day.
In addition, make sure garbage containers in
the kitchen and bathroom have new plastic
bag inserts. You may go through more than
usual, but it will be worth it.
Not intended to cause or induce the breach of, cancellation of, assignment of, or to interfere in any way with the existing agency agreement of another Realtor.