Preparing your Home for Showing
It is very important that your home shows well. Buyers
are aware that it cannot always be perfect. After all, you and your family must
live there too. Develop a routine that will allow you to pick up and be prepared
for show in a reasonable period without duress – a 45-minute countdown, for
example.
Below is the list of what you should do before each
showing:
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Pick Up Every Room - check counters, floors, halls and stairs. Straighten up or remove newspapers, magazines, mail, toys, clothing, recreation gears, snack glasses and dishes.
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Turn On All Lights – Even those in toilets and storage rooms. Electric lights have an amazing capability for creating an illusion of lightness, airiness and largeness.
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Open All Drapes, Shades and Blinds – Do all that you can to create a bright and light ambience.
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The Bedrooms – Make up the beds, neatly and attractively, early in the morning. This is a job you don’t want to have to do when you learn that the buyers will be there within the hour.
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The Kitchen – Be sure all countertops are clear and “squeaky clean”. Wipe down appliances. Be sure all dishes are in the dishwasher or cleaned and put away. The sink should be clear and clean.
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Clean Air – Keep air fresheners in toilets, bathrooms and kitchen. Be especially careful to keep kitchen odors fresh: coffee brewing or a cinnamon coffee cake baking in the oven has a lasting, inviting effect.
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Music – Perhaps you cannot have something baking in the oven every time, but soft, pleasant background music may be very effective.
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Fireplace – A warm, cozy fire may be just the extra touch that turns the trick.
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Air Conditioning – If the weather is warm and sultry, have the air conditioning operating.
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The Bathrooms – Keep a set of fresh attractive towels in each bathroom that you can change instantly.
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The Entryway – It is the first and last impression that your buyers will have of your home. Make it a good one. Check it regularly for sharpness.
