Preparing your home for showing

You’ve made the decision to sell, and have signed all the necessary paperwork to list your home. There are several ways to make your house more saleable, and in turn, receive a top dollar offer. Here are some basic tips for preparing your home for showing:

  1. Tidy your yard. Trimming bushes, cutting grass, clearing weeds and adding a few pots of brightly colored flowers can make your house so much more inviting.
  2. Make sure your front patio and door are fresh and clean looking. Sweep area and repaint front door if necessary.
  3. Get rid of clutter. Move unnecessary furniture into storage or into the garage and store out-of-season clothing. Clearing out spaces in rooms and closets can make your home appear larger.
  4. Make minor repairs that can make a bad impression. Items such as torn screens, leaky faucets and drywall cracks can scare away a potential Buyer. Also remember to replace any burnt out light bulbs.
  5. Make sure the house smells fresh and clean. Open a few windows (if weather permits), clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate odors, and consider softly scented candles or air fresheners to give an inviting smell.
  6. Keep home in exceptionally clean condition. Make sure all windows and blinds are clean, and all switch plates, doors and molding are extra clean.
  7. Make your decor more neutral. Some buyers are put off by neon-colored bedrooms, wacky collections, or family photos. If they can’t picture themselves living there, or they are distracted by your 200-item collection, your house isn’t getting the attention it deserves. Make sure they are talking about your granite countertops, not your stuffed jackalope!

 

And hey, if you need more help making your home look top-notch, we can always look into professional staging. Staging is, quite often, money well spent to make your home look its best, and in turn receive the best offers.