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.
