Simple Tips for
Better Home Showings
1.
Remove clutter and clear off counters.
Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your
small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove
out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don't
forget to clean out the garage, too.
2. Wash your windows and screens. This will help get more light
into the interior of the home.
3. Keep everything extra clean.
A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message
to buyers that the home has been well-cared for. Wash fingerprints from
light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator.
Polish your doorknobs and address numbers. It's worth hiring a cleaning
service if you can afford it.
4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate
cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows to air out the
house. Potpourri or scented candles will help.
5. Brighten your rooms. Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures
to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned-out bulbs in
closets. Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of neutral
color paint.
6. Don't disregard minor repairs. Small problems such as sticky
doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem
trivial, but they'll give buyers the impression that the house isn't
well-maintained.
7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, add new mulch,
trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters. For added
curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the entryway.
8. Patch holes. Repair any holes in your driveway and reapply
sealant, if applicable.
9. Add a touch of color in the living room. A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room. Buy new accent pillows for the sofa.
10. Buy a flowering plant and put it near a window you pass by frequently.
11. Make centerpieces for your tables.
Use brightly colored fruit or flowers.
12. Set the scene.
Set the table with fancy dishes and candles, and create other vignettes
throughout the home to help buyers picture living there. For example,
in the basement you might display a chess game in progress.
13. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light. Show off the view if you have one.
14. Accentuate the fireplace.
Lay fresh logs in the fireplace or put a basket of flowers there if
it's not in use.
15.
Make the bathrooms feel luxurious.
Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom,
they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and
fancy guest soaps. Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of
sight.
16.
Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside.
If that's not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (ideally
in the basement), and let the real estate practitioner know where they'll
be to eliminate surprises.
17. Lock up valuables, jewelry, and
money. While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the
showing or open house, it's impossible to watch everyone all the time.
18. Leave the home. It's usually best if the sellers are not at home. It's awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.
