What happens after you’re live on the MLS?
Congratulations! Your home is now officially on the market, and all the hard work you’ve put in so far should start paying off soon! You’ve done a lot of prep work to get your home market ready. Now it’s our job to bring you a purchase offer.
Sometimes it takes 36–72 hours before we get our first showing request. In a seller’s market where demand exceeds supply, buyers waiting to pounce on new listings, so our first showing request could come in within hours. As soon as a request comes in, you will be alerted via text message. Usually we ask the buyer’s Realtor to give as much notice as possible for showings, but it’s not unusual to get showing requests in the morning for that afternoon or evening. So when you leave each day, plan to have showings even if we don’t have one on the calendar the night before. If that’s an issue due to pets at home, kids, etc., let me know and we can require advance notice.
Once a showing request comes in, you can approve it, deny it, or ask for a different day/time. (On vacant listings, we generally mark them to receive immediate approval.) Remember, the quicker we get buyers into your home and the fewer showings we have to decline or reschedule, the quicker we can get your property under contract. We need to operate under the philosophy where buyers shouldn’t have to work around our schedule (which is why I always put a lockbox on every property we sell.) I want to get buyers in as quickly as possible and—in order to do that—we need to work around their schedule.
Typically showings last 15-30 minutes. You should plan to be out 15 minutes before the showing time in case the buyer and their Realtor are early. So plan to be out of the home for 45 minutes to an hour for each showing request. For example, if a showing is scheduled for 5:00 PM, please be out by 4:45, and don’t come home until after 5:30 PM.
As soon as a showing is finished, the buyer’s Realtor will immediately get an email asking for feedback and if their customer or client is interested in the home. Unfortunately a small percentage of Realtors take the time to give feedback. If we receive feedback, I will immediately forward it to you via email to review. Don’t be surprised when we don’t get feedback, and do not be offended by unfavorable feedback. We’re looking for that ONE buyer who loves your home! For most buyers, your home won’t be the right fit for various reasons, but we only need to find one.
Be sure to look at my “unconventional” feedback questions below so you’re not puzzled by the quirky answers that come in!
Lastly, once your home is live in the MLS (multiple listing service), we will send you a copy of the listing sheet to review. Please review it carefully and let us know of any errors. In addition, if you don’t like how we phrased something or feel we left out an important point, let me know. Remember, we’re a team and we want to get your house sold just as much as you do!
Questions? Call me at (405) 585-6580 or email Steve@Soldonshawnee.com.
<< STEP 7: I'll pre-market your home >> STEP 9: Putting your listing on Zillow, Trulia, etc.
