You've done all the preparation to sell your home, and now a buyer is coming to see it for the first time, eek! You may have the best home on the block, but if you are not show-ready you can turn off potential buyers. As the saying goes, you get one opportunity to make a great first impression.
Selling your home can be stressful, and showings can be the culprit. Some showings can come at the last second, but those are often some of the best opportunities. Having your home show-ready first thing in the morning will prepare you for the unexpected ahead. Have a plan of where you will go during showings, especially if you have small kids and pets. Ask a neighbor if your dog can hang out in their backyard, it's always best to remove any pets from your home that may potentially scare visitors.
So, what do you need to do to make sure potential buyers will have the best possible visit to your home? We've created a bulletproof list below to make sure you are ready to show and sell.
HOME SHOWING CHECKLIST
Here is everything you need to do to make sure you are ready for a home showing.
❏ Remove clutter. Clear off counters and pack unnecessary decorative items. Put extra furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season items. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too (in Winter, make sure to hose out those dirty Colorado garages).
❏ Let it shine. Cleaning windows and screens will help bring more light into your home. Replace burnt bulbs, and consider higher wattage LED lights in low-light areas. Clean the walls or brush on a fresh coat of bright (neutral colors are best). Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones and show off your view.
❏ Turn on all lights and open all blinds. Open all of your blinds and curtains to let in as much natural light into your home as possible. This is especially important for darker homes but equally as important for homes with lots of natural light. You want to showcase your "light and bright" home and show every potential view.
❏ Keep it clean. A deep clean before listing your home will make upkeep easier. Consider hiring a cleaning service to help (we have several good cleaning referrals)
❏ Maximize comfort. Make sure your home isn't too cold in the Winter, or too warm in the Summer. This is not the time to save on utility bills, you want potential buyers to feel cozy inside your home.
❏ Perform a sniff test. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate odors. Open the windows to air out the house. Consider potpourri or scented candles and diffusers. For quick fixes in the kitchen, cotton balls soaked in vanilla extract or orange juice can instantly make the fridge a nicer-smelling place. Boil lemon juice in your microwave, then add it to your dishwasher to eliminate odors. You can also run lemon rinds through the garbage disposal for a similar effect.
❏ Take care of minor repairs. Sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well-maintained.
❏ Tidy up outdoors. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters. A pot of bright flowers near the entryway adds great curb appeal.
❏ Set the scene. A bright afghan or new accent pillows easily jazz up a dull room. Pretty dishes or a simple centerpiece on the tables can help buyers picture themselves living there. Try staging a chess game in progress. If you have a fireplace, lay fresh logs or a basket of flowers there.
❏ Remove pets. Have a plan for cats and dogs to be out of the home for showings. Not all buyers will be pet friendly, and a lot of people are actually scared of dogs (even small ones). plus, if someone has a pet allergy this will make for an awkward beginning for the home tour.
If you've followed our checklist, your home will make the very best first impression possible! If you need helping getting ready to sell your Denver area home, make sure to contact us using the easy form below. Our best-rated Denver real estate agents can help you with everything you need to do to set the stage for a perfect home sale (and make the whole process easy breezy).
Posted by Ryan Penn on
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