Preparing Your Home for Showing
First impressions are lasting impressions. Most buyers will decide whether to view a home by the curb appeal of a home (The exterior appearance). The following tips will help you increase you home’s appeal and create that strong first impression.
- Do a general clean up around the yard.
- Remove clutter and garbage.
- Mow, trim and fertilize the lawn, remove grass clippings
- Weed flower beds.
- Edge walkways, trim hedges and shrubs.
- Repair and paint fences.
- Walkways shoveled and salted.
- Entranceway in good repair and fresh paint.
- Exterior paint is fresh and in good repair.
Interior:
- Clean everything in and out of sight.
- Paint or paint touch up if required.
- Shampoo rugs, wax floors, wash walls, wash windows.
- Complete all repairs.
- Clean the basement and garage.
- If you are a smoker use an air freshener. Smoke outside during listing period.
- Stove, refrigerator, sinks and counters should be spotless.
- Put away all dishes.
- Be conscious of odors caused by garbage, various foods and cooking smells.
- Leaky taps and toilets repaired.
- Mirrors, fixtures and taps cleaned and polished.
- Air conditioning on in summer.
- Fireplace on in winter.
- Fresh flowers in various rooms.
- Jewelry and valuables locked safely away or taken with you.
To a buyer space is one of their key considerations. They need to be able to visualize themselves and their possessions in this house. When a house is being shown turn on the lights when you leave, open all window coverings to let in as much light as possible. Arrange furniture to allow a spacious atmosphere. Create space by storing of site some of the extra furniture that makes the rooms look crowded. Additional tips to consider:
- Take everything off the kitchen counters.
- Take 50% of your closet contents and put them in storage.
- Weed out clutter in cabinets
- Remove all family photos from tables, mantels and walls.
- Remove posters and signs from children’s rooms.
- Have fresh baked cookies.
- Turn on all lights.
