If you’re selling your home, a good rule of thumb involves providing potential buyers with almost unlimited access and avoiding placing restrictions on showings. If you aren’t showing your house frequently enough, you could miss out on potentially interested buyers who are willing to pay your asking price. Here are some guidelines for making sure you’re showing these buyers the best.
#1 – Make a Good First Impression
First things first, you’ll want to make sure that you pay close attention to curb appeal when showing your house. Keep your lawn well-manicured, your landscaping fresh, and your kids’ toys, bikes, and equipment put up and out of sight. You should also put your cars in the garage if they will fit. If they do not, move them away from the house. Having cars in the driveway or parked on the street in front of your house can inhibit the view of your home.
#2 – Clean Thoroughly
If you’re still living in your home, be sure that you’re keeping it spotless to the best of your ability. Vacuum regularly, make sure you’re dusting things each day, make your beds, keep the bathroom and kitchen clean, and so on. These things can give your home that “brand-new” look, which is important when it comes to showing your house. You want to help spark imagination in the minds of potential buyers; you don’t want them to come to think of your home as cluttered or dirty.
#3 – Keep an Eye on Lighting
Lighting is very important when you’re showing your home. As such, make sure you’ve opened all the curtains and shades and turned on all the lights – including those in your garage or basement – when you’re showing your house. If you’re showing in the evening hours, turn on the outdoor lights, too. Finally, if the view from certain windows isn’t the best, leave blinds partially closed. This way, the view is mostly blocked, but natural light still filters through.
#4 – Neutralize Odors
If you have pets, or if you enjoy cooking at home, be wary of this when you’re showing your house. Guests don’t want to smell pet or cooking odors, nor do they want to be overwhelmed with perfumes or air fresheners. Baking soda in strategic areas can help neutralize odors, and if you need to add a bit of freshness, consider using Febreze rather than a strong air freshener.
#5 – Provide Information for Buyers
Last, but most certainly not least, you should always provide potential buyers with plenty of information when showing your house. Brochures on the entry table can do this very nicely; in fact, if you offer these just prior to the showing, then potential buyers can look at the layout of the home before they ever step out of the foyer. You can also list your asking price and any benefits available to buyers here.
Showing your house is an important part of selling it. You should be willing to show your home at a moment’s notice, and you should always keep things clean and tidy. Following these steps will help you sell your home more quickly – and for more money.