There is a debate about whether it is better for a seller to place a 24-hour showing notice to would-be buyers of a home. It can be hard to accommodate property showings, especially if you occupy a home you are trying to sell. This issue can be solved by requiring buyers to contact the seller 24 hours before they request to schedule a visit. 

Meanwhile, some real estate agents consider a 24-hour notice as a kind of restriction on a potential buyer, which makes it harder to sell a home. Read this article to learn more about a 24-hour notice requirement and its upsides and downsides. 

What is a 24-Hour Notice on Property Showings?

The Multiple Listing Service gives instructions to home buyers and their agents regarding real estate showings. A home listing can have a 24-hour notice requirement, which means the buyer’s agent should call at least 24 hours before they request a schedule for a visit. 

However, most property listings do not place this requirement because they want to accommodate potential buyers to a real estate showing without a hurdle. A 24-hour notice on real estate showings can be a disadvantage to selling the property fast. 

Downsides with 24-Hour Notice on Real Estate Showings

A home seller can experience many disadvantages when he decides to place a 24-hour notice on real estate showings. It is because buyers will typically choose a property that does not require a 24-hour notice. 

As a home seller, you do not want to get left behind in time. You cannot afford potential buyers to pass over your listing. As far as possible, you should eliminate any hassle in the homebuying process. 

Adding difficulty to property showing may upset prospective buyers who have an interest in your home. That is the thing you should avoid at all costs, making it difficult for buyers to visit the property for sale. Thus, you must weigh in carefully before deciding to have a 24-notice requirement on your home showings. 

Reasons a 24-Hour Notice Can Be Acceptable or Necessary

A seller can have good reasons to require potential buyers to contact you 24 hours before requesting a schedule for a property visit. Here is a list. 

Prepare the Property for Showing

Once you put your property on the market, it is crucial to keep it neat and tidy. Potential buyers will like it if you ensure everything in the house is in order. Thus, a 24-hour notice is reasonable as long as it helps you to prepare the property for showing. 

In this case, you might need to give prospective buyers a 24-hour notice for you to clean up before letting them inside the property. Remember that it can be beneficial to go for a less advanced showing notice. 

Buyers in Your Area Expect a 24-Hour Notice

It is reasonable to put a 24-hour notice requirement on property showings if it is the norm in your area. If you have no fear of weakening your competitiveness as a seller, you can place a 24-hour notice. 

However, it might not be a smart idea if it is not the norm in your neighborhood since most sellers will try to win over prospective buyers by eliminating hurdles to the homebuying process. 

The Property is Exceptional

You can ask for a 24-hour notice if you think your house is exceptional. A good real estate property will be in demand. So, it can be reasonable to have a 24-hour notice. But it is wise to get advice from your Realtor first because it is not a guarantee to anticipate purchasers to be in a hurry to buy your home. 

The Property Is Used for Business or Other Activities

It is not easy to vacate a property temporarily for showing if you are using it for business or other activities. In this case, you can require a 24-hour notice to have enough time to prepare the house for viewing. 

There are Pets on the Property

Selling a house without pets living in is easier, but it is another discussion if pets are present. You should keep your furry friends out of the property during real estate showings. Thus, it is necessary to give a 24-hour notice to move your pets out of the house before potential buyers can view it. One of the most frequent reasons for sellers requesting advanced notice for showings is pet relocation.

Endnote

There are advantages and disadvantages of requiring homebuyers to contact the seller at least 24 hours before requesting to schedule a property showing. If you are thinking of giving a 24-hour notice on a real estate show, be sure you weigh the pros and cons before making your decision. Consult a real estate agent for this purpose.