Access Can Make or Break the Sale of Your Home

Real estate agents understand that clients should be involved in their property sale and they want to ensure that the property is presented to buyers in a way that's appropriate for the current market conditions. Open houses may not comply with current health regulations or buyers may value a more intimate viewing experience, so it's important to weigh your options carefully when deciding how much access to offer potential buyers. Your agent can provide valuable information on this decision-making process and help you make an informed choice.

At the height of the buying frenzy seen during the pandemic, there was a rise in the number of homebuyers who put offers on houses sight unseen. That happened for three reasons:

• Extremely low housing inventory
• A lot of competition from other buyers wanting to take advantage of historically low mortgage rates
• And general wariness of in-person home tours during a pandemic

Today, the market’s changing, and buyers can usually be more selective and take more time to explore their options.

If you're looking to effectively show and sell your house, providing buyers with adequate access is key. Working with your agent, there are five levels of access you should consider. To ensure the best results for selling your home, it's important to provide as much access to buyers as possible.

1. 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 convenience.
2. Providing a Key to the Home – This would require an agent to stop by an office to pick up the key, which is still pretty convenient for a buyer.
3. Open Access with a Phone Call – This means you allow a showing with just a phone call’s notice.
4. By Appointment Only – For example, you might want your agent to set up a showing at a particular time and give you advance notice. That way you can prepare the house and be sure you have somewhere else you can go in the meantime.
5. Limited Access – This might mean you’re only willing to have your house available on certain days or at certain times of the day. In general, this is the most difficult and least flexible way to show your house to potential buyers.

When putting your home on the market, it's important to remember that the housing market is subject to change. To ensure you have a successful sale, work with your agent to maximize buyer access and showcase your home in its best light. With a little bit of foresight and preparation, you increase your chances of success.