Putting your home on the market can be scary and exhausting, but it does not have to be! Today we plan to arm you with important and often overlooked information that will increase your understanding about, and control over, the process. We will help you to be prepared with a view to reducing and eliminating the surprises and frustration that uninformed sellers experience.
Today our topic is: What to expect once you list your home.
The listing process begins with the signing of a listing package with your REALTOR®. This simple act sets you on a path that kicks-off a flurry of activity that will ebb and flow right through to your closing date. Here is what you should expect:
- For Sale Sign – once the listing agreement is signed, your REALTOR® will want to place a “For Sale” sign in your yard. This sign serves multiple purposes which include notifying passersby that your home is for sale (you would be surprised at how many inquiries come from people who were driving by and saw the sign)! It also acts as a beacon of sorts for agents showing your home. If someone sees the sign and knocks on your door asking to see the house (yes, it does happen!) direct them to your REALTOR® and have them make an appointment. It is not safe to let unannounced strangers into your home!
- Lockbox – your agent will want to place a lockbox on your home. The lockbox will contain a key to your home and allows agents to show your home when you are not there. Attaching a key to the outside of your home may seem a little daunting at first, it may be helpful for you to know that the lockbox system records who opens it and when the key is returned. Your REALTOR® will be given all the details of the access and will be able to reach out to the showing agent for feedback.
- MLS / Internet Presence – The details of your home and the fact that it is for sale will be entered into the MLS system and thereafter will automatically be posted to a plethora of websites (Zillow, Realtor.com, Homes.Com, and MANY more). Your REALTOR® may also post it to his/her own website and others. In other words, the world will become aware that you’re a willing seller.
- Showings – If your home is priced right, and the market is buoyant, you are likely to have many showings in the first few weeks, after which the traffic will taper off. This is normal and should not be a cause for concern. Homes take, on average, 60-90 days to sell. If a potential buyer comes back more than once, you should see this as a good sign; the buyer is interested! Remember these important rules:
- you should not be home during showings, nor should your pets;
- your home should be staged, clean and neat for all showings;
- brochures about your home should be placed in an easy to see location (your REALTOR® will provide these);
- all prescription medication and valuables should be removed from your home or kept in a safe.
Your REALTOR® will provide as much notice as possible for each showing, and will work around your schedule, so make sure you communicate openly and often with your REALTOR®.
- Open Houses – Your REALTOR® will likely want to do a broker open house as well as traditional style (public) open houses as soon as possible. Broker open houses are typically held during the week and are restricted to agents only. They are usually very quick (10 minutes) and are generally intended to provide constructive feedback about pricing, staging, maintenance, curb appeal, etc. They also encourage agents to think about their lists of buyers and whether your home may be suitable for one or more of them. Traditional open houses are usually held on weekends, can take 3 – 4 hours and are intended to attract interested buyers.
- Keeping Your Home in Showing Condition – throughout this process, it is important that you keep your home in “showing” condition. We know this is difficult, but we cannot emphasize how important it is. Buyers need to visualize themselves living in your home. Food smells, clutter and dirt can spoil that fantasy and lose a sale faster than you can say Jiminy Cricket!
- Dealing with Feelings of Frustration – Sellers often become discouraged at about the six-week mark. Keeping your home spotless has worn thin, and you are tired of receiving feedback pointing out things you cannot or are not willing to change. The showings have trickled off completely and you just want this process to be finished. It is time to sit down with your REALTOR® and talk about things like price and items that you may be willing to change to make the sale happen.
If you keep these points in mind you will be in a much better position than most sellers! The key is open and frequent communication with your REALTOR®, let them know what’s working well and what isn’t. We work tirelessly for our clients throughout the sales process and will do anything to make this process as smooth and enjoyable as possible!
That’s it for today’s post, if you want more information on what to expect when selling your home or if you want to stay up to date on all things Anthem, make sure you like our Facebook Page at ‘Wise Move AZ’ or subscribe to our Wise Move AZ channel on YouTube.
Do you have a question you would like us to answer? Have something awesome that you’d like to share about Anthem? We want to hear from you; leave us a note in the form below.
Remember, if you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell their home, please give us a call! It’s always the right time to make a wise move with the Wise Move AZ Team.
