Getting a home ready for showing is a big part of the selling process. It’s not enough to find a new home, pack your belongings, and head out. Like any large purchase, you will have to invite potential buyers in for showings.
There are some steps you should take prior to letting anyone come in, as these will help you home stand out from the rest on the market.
- Start packing unneeded items now.
The moment you decide to sell your home, you should begin packing. This reduces the clutter that potentials buyers will see during a showing. Box up these items, label the boxes, and stack in out of the way – the basement or garage are good places for packed boxes.
- Clean your home from top to bottom.
For the initial cleaning, spend at least an entire weekend making everything look immaculate. If you don’t have the time, desire, or skills, hire a professional cleaning service. You want the home to look good for prospective buyers, so having it spotless is a must!
- Make your home look lived in.
While you want things to be clean when you have a showing, it’s also a good idea to have items in sight during a showing. In a child’s bedroom, for example, have a couple toys on the floor or a coloring book lying on the bed. In the kitchen, a kitchen towel and cutting board on the counter are nice additions.
Having common items lying about when buyers come in lets them visualize living there, as if the books or toys were their own child’s belongings.
- Make the home smell nice too.
It’s not enough to clean the house. You want the smell of it to be welcoming during a showing. Light a candle earlier in the day before possible buyers are expected to arrive. Be sure to use a subtle scent, as you want a pleasant smell – not one that’s over the top and could give someone a headache.
- Make any repairs before you start showing your home.
You don’t want to give buyers any reason to resist your home. No one wants to consider a home that will need more money sunk into it as soon as they move into it. Make sure you get everything in working order before you try to sell.
- Don’t forget the yard!
Even though the house is the priority, you want the lawn to look presentable too. Make sure it’s freshly mowed prior to a showing. Any landscaping should be kept up as well, such as flowers watered and hedges trimmed. If maintaining natural grass is too much hassle, consider installing fake turf for a lush, low-maintenance alternative.
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