So, you’ve decided to sell your house. You’ve hired a real estate professional to help you with the entire process. Now you’ve been asked what level of access you want to provide to potential buyers. What you tell them is so important to getting your home sold.

There are four elements to a quality listing. At the top of the list is Access, followed by Condition, Financing, and Price. There are many levels of access you can provide to your agent to be able to show your home.

Here are five levels of access you can provide to a buyer, each with a brief description:

Lockbox on the Door

This allows buyers the ability to see the home as soon as they are aware of the listing, or at their convenience.

Providing a Key to the Home

Although the buyer’s agent may need to stop by an office to pick up the key, there is little delay in being able to show the home.

Open Access with a Phone Call

The seller allows showing with just a phone call’s notice.

By Appointment Only

Example: 48-hour notice. Many buyers who are relocating for a new career or promotion start working in that area prior to purchasing their home. They often like to take advantage of free time during business hours (such as their lunch break) to view potential homes. Because of this, they may not be able to plan their availability far in advance or may be unable to wait 48 hours to see the house.

Limited Access

Example: the home is only available for a couple of hours a day. This is the most difficult way to be able to show your house to potential buyers.

In a competitive marketplace, access can make or break your home selling plans. From getting the price you are looking for to even sell your house at all.