Listing
your home in the Greater St. Louis Area? It’s an exciting time! You’ve chosen the right agent, selected the right price, taken great pictures and prepared your home for sale….so what can you expect next? Now that your home is on the market, you’re ready for the potential home buyers to come through your house so the right one can make an offer. Understanding that the first few days on the market are the most important, this is when a new listing gets the most attention, you can make sure you are prepared for the buyers and their agents so you can get those offers you want.
Prepare Your Home
Of course you’ve already worked on the curb appeal of your property, now it’s time to take that even further and make sure your St. Louis home is ready for potential buyers to view. You already know that the home needs to be clean and tidy, but you can enhance the buyer’s impression of your home with a few extra touches.
- Keep the temperature comfortable at all times
- Limit the candles and scents, nothing too strong
- Check drawers, closets and storage areas for clutter and neaten
- Have your home “show-ready” at all times
Also, give the buyers a reason to linger in your home so they can begin to imagine themselves living there.
What Do You Do During Showings?
Nothing! You should leave! The best advice is to welcome the agent and their clients into the home, and leave. Take a walk, go to the store, catch a matinee….anything that gives your buyers privacy to spend time in your home. Resist the urge to “sell” your home, neighborhood, school system and let your agent handle all questions for you. They are the professional and know how to manage buyers and their agents to give you the best opportunity for a solid offer.
First Few Days
The first few days on market are the most important for a new home listing. Plan carefully so that you are able to offer the home for viewing as often as possible. Your agent might want to hold open houses that first weekend and you need to be prepared for this. New listings get the most attention and if you lose this time, there is no way to get it back. The first few days, you should expect last minute showing requests and even agents knocking on your door, be as flexible as possible so you can capture any and all interested buyers.
Above all, listing your St. Louis home is exciting. By taking a little time to plan carefully and prepare, you can make sure you capitalize on the excitement of a new listing and attract potential buyers to your home.
Selling Your Home? Let us Help!