If you've recently listed your home for sale, you should already have painted, cleared clutter from indoors and outdoors, and replaced any broken items that could detract from its appearance and value. So if the phone rings and your realtor needs to show the home today, you think you're ready to go. But you need to stay organized and pay attention to detail in order to give your home every possible advantage of selling in this buyer's market.
Everyday Organizing and Last Minute Primping
It's not easy to live in a house that can be shown at a moment's notice. Things will go much smoother for a last minute showing if you and your family are in the habit of making their beds everyday, picking up dirty clothes and toys and wiping down the shower. But if some things got out of order, go through the house right before the showing tossing items into a laundry bin that you can pop into the trunk of your car. Strive to keep your countertops and table tops free from mail, newspapers and clutter and keep the bathrooms and kitchens wiped down. Place dishes in the dishwasher after every meal, keep dusting wands handy for last minute run-throughs and vacuum regularly. Mop floors as often as needed and keep a sprayer mop available for last minute touch ups.
Find a Pet Sitter or Take Felix and Fido with You
Most likely you will leave your house whenever it is shown and you would be wise to take your pets with you, or arrange ahead of time for a pet sitter. For one thing, you don't want someone accidentally letting the cat out of the house and no one want to hear a barking dog while viewing your home. Worse, you don't want a scared dog biting a stranger. Not having the pets in the home gives potential buyers a chance to see every room in the house. It's ok if there is evidence of pets, such as beds or bowls, as long as there is no damage from pets and the home is clean. A buyer will be impressed with a home that is clean and fresh smelling, even though pets are part of the family; it indicates that you are responsible and that you keep a well-maintained home.
Good Scents, Bad Sense
While a steaming pie set on a kitchen counter is inviting, don't overdo it with artificial air fresheners. A potential buyer could think that something's fishy and you're trying to cover it up. Make cleanliness your first priority: Empty the kitchen trash can daily and keep the kitchen smelling clean by washing sinks daily. Run a solution of baking soda and water or bleach water through the drains weekly. Keep the bathrooms as clean as possible. A basket of potpourri or unlit scented candles are fine; just don't overwhelm with fragrance.
A bright home is a spacious home
Always turn on lights and open shades before a showing. A home that appears bright, will appear more spacious and attractive to buyers. In a room that doesn't have much natural light, it may be advantageous to swap out darker colored furnishings for lighter ones ahead of time, and turn on every light in that room when showing the home. When a room appears dark, not only does it seem smaller, it gives the impression that the homeowner wants to keep buyers out of those spaces. Keep it bright and welcome potential buyers in so that the can see all the outstanding features of your home, which may now be the home of their dreams.
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