Dear Heather

I have just listed my home for sale with an agent. She says that it will be a week or two before she has done the preparations necessary to launch it on to the sales market, why does it take this long, and can I do anything to help my home sell more quickly?

Impatient Seller

Dear Impatient Seller

Once your home is listed for sale, it is necessary for the sales agent to make sure the listing material is properly prepared to go on to the worldwide websites. How it presents initially is vital because as they say, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression”.

This is to give you, the seller, the greatest chance of selling your home during the first few weeks of marketing. This critical period is your best opportunity to sell your home.

Several key events happen quickly:

1. While your listing is being prepared for marketing, your agent will contact his or her buyers and inform colleagues of the new listing.

2. Other data such as satellite location, neighbourhood information, land tax, lot plans, legal description, assessment number, property description, zoning information, mapping information and other data will be added to your listing so that buyers can get the full details of your home.

3. Your agent will take photos to help market your home and sometimes a video or “virtual tour” will be prepared. This helps attract buyers to look at your property.

4. Your agent will create a printed “data” sheet that showcase your home’s features, so buyers can remember it was your home they liked best when it is time to do side-by-side comparisons.

5. Your agent will schedule your home on a tour for other agents in their office to see, and others agents if requested. The agents who see your home in person are important, as they will be able to report your home’s features and condition to their buyers. Homes in top move-in-ready condition sell faster and for more money.

6. Your agent will distribute your listing to his/her company website and face book page, and other social media account that they may use such as LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram, the broker’s website, and a third-party site like Property Skipper.

7. Your agent will put a sign in your yard announcing your home is for sale, if desired.

8. Your agent may advertise your home in a number of places, including the local newspaper and home magazines. Your agent may also put your home in their personal marketing tools such as e-magazines, newsletters, or e-mail alerts to prospective buyers.

Anyone who is interested in homes in your price range and area will know your home is available for sale within the first few weeks of marketing. However, all this work and attention to detail can take longer if some information is not readily available.

What can you do to help?

The first few weeks are crucial period to marketing your home. This is when the “buzz” and excitement is created. This is when you should take your agent’s advice and have your home looking its absolute best, from the outside in, many people do a drive by (particularly in Bermuda) so curb appeal is important.

If you do not get many showings or offers within the first few weeks of listing your home, consult your agent. You may want to give your home a little more time before you adjust the price. You may be in a buyer’s market, with many homes for sale. If so, buyers need more time to sort through the homes on the market.

You don’t want to take chances when marketing your home. Your best chance of selling your home is when it’s new to the market and exciting to buyers. That is why agents take so much time and care before presenting it to the market and it does not pay to cut corners here. You can help increase that advantage by not overpricing or underpreparing your home for market.

•Heather Chilvers is among Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty’s leading sales representatives. She has been working in real estate for 27 years. If you have a question for Heather, please contact her at hchilvers@brcl.bm or 332-1793. All questions will be treated in confidence. Read this article on Facebook: Ask Heather Real Estate