If you are planning to sell your house, it would be good idea to do your research in advance and prepare yourself for what to expect so you won’t have any surprises. Basically, once you sign a listing agreement, you can pretty much expect a three-step process to follow: getting your house ready, showing it off, then responding to the marketplace.
One of the first things you real estate agent will do is to enter your home in the local multiple listing service or MLS. This lets other agents in your area know that your home is for sale. After this, you can probably expect a for sale sign to be put up in your yard and a lockbox attached to your home, usually on or near the front door. A lockbox gives local agents access to your house when you aren’t available. This may make you a little uncomfortable at first, but it’s important for real estate agents to be able to show your home to potential buyers while you are away. Not having a lockbox may discourage a lot of agents from putting your home at the top of their list of homes for their clients to see, because it will take a lot of time and effort on their end to track down your realtor who must then ask you when you are available, and there’s no guarantee that their buyers will be available when you are. Besides, if you live in a hot sellers’ market, there will be plenty of other homes for them to see.
Assuming you have priced your home correctly and gotten it in move-in ready condition, you should expect to get the most traffic during the first two to three weeks after your home is listed. Don’t worry if the traffic dies down after this period, this is normal. The average days a home is on the market can range from 60 to 90 days in a normal cycle, depending on market conditions and the area you live in. In slower markets, buyers can and usually will take their time. If you have buyers who come back a second or even third time, it usually means that they are seriously considering purchasing your home, and you will want your real estate agent to stay in touch with theirs. Any offers are a good chance to start negotiating, even those you may consider lowball. Negotiations often lead to sales, especially if you’re working with an experienced and knowledgeable real estate professional.
If you are planning to sell your home, let The Incorvaia Team make the process as easy as possible for you. Call us at 440-879-7130 today!
