Showtime:
Tips for Showing your Home
After putting
in a huge amount of time and effort to get your home
looking good and ready to sell, your hard work is finally going to pay
off: your home is on the market—you’re ready to begin showing.
Your house should always be at-the-ready for a tour, as agents may bring
clients by with very little notice. If they catch you unprepared
and you aren’t able to show the house on the spot, you could be losing
out on a sale. Concentrate on the following areas to ensure your
home is ready to show:
- People
Homebuyers may feel like
intruders if you are present while they view your house, and this will
affect their overall impression. Consider taking the opportunity
to visit the local coffee shop, go shopping, or take the kids to the
park. If you can’t leave while the house is being shown, try
to be as unassuming as possible. Do not move from room to room.
Don’t offer information, but make yourself available to answer any
questions the agent or buyers might have.
- Lighting
When you know an agent
is bringing someone by, make sure all of the drapes and window shades
are open to let in as much daylight as possible, or—if the showing
is taking place at night—to create a look of comfort and warmth when
viewed from the outside. Open all the doors between rooms to create
an open, inviting feel. Turn on all lamps and overhead lights,
even during the day. Keeping lights on during the day softens
the harsh shadows sunlight can create in a room, and illuminates dim
corners. During nighttime showings, make sure all outdoor lights
are on, as well as pool lights.
- Cleanliness
Scan the floor for debris—newspapers
and magazines tend to accumulate without our noticing. Make sure
all the counters are clutter-free. Empty the kitchen garbage before
every showing, particularly if the garbage can doesn’t have a lid.
Keep everything freshly dusted and vacuumed. Beds should be made
and bathrooms cleaned (toilet lid down). Every room should sparkle.
- Scents and Sounds
Avoid using scented sprays
before showing your home. Some people simply won’t enjoy the
smell, and others may be allergic. If you want to make a room
smell pleasant, consider a potpourri pot or a naturally-sourced aroma.
If you or your family is
home while the agent is giving a tour, try to stay as quiet as possible.
Turn off the television and the blaring radio. Put on some soothing
background music at a low volume.
- Pets
If you have pets, make
sure your listing agent includes this in your listing on the Multiple
Listing Service. This way, no one will be surprised by a furry
welcome if the agent shows the house while you’re not there.
If you know someone is coming to tour the house, ideally you should
take the pets with you, or arrange to have a friend or family member
take them. If this isn’t possible, keep dogs in the backyard,
preferably in a penned area. Try to keep indoor cats in one room
while people are touring the house, and put a sign on the door.
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