How to Prepare Your Home for Showings

During such a competitive time for the real estate market, home buyers are pickier than ever. In addition to having top-notch photos of your home, it is even more important to make a perfect first impression in person. Having a potential buyer visit your home is already a huge step in the right direction, so you wouldn’t want to lose a potential sale due to some easily avoidable mistakes. Here are 7 steps for preparing your home for showings to ensure that your home will stand out in the crowd. 

1) Clean the Outside

Curb appeal is crucial when it comes to showing your home. You don’t want buyers to be turned off by your unkept lawn and dirty gutters to make judgments before they even see the inside. Make the outside of your home as inviting as possible; clean up any toys left in the yard, sweep the walkways, and rip out those weeds in the garden. Details matter!

2)De-clutter and Depersonalize 

Clutter is one of the most noticeable things to a prospective buyer.  Buyers want to walk into a potential new home envisioning themselves living there, which can be pretty difficult when your personal belongings are scattered throughout. Be sure to clear out those messy shelves, closets, and entryways. Also remember to remove an excessive number of photos of you and your family, your kids’ artwork, report cards, mail, etc. After all, this (hopefully) won’t be your home for much longer.

3) Make Repairs

That loose doorknob you’ve procrastinated getting fixed? Now is the time to stop avoiding it. Even the smaller things you thought you could get away with ignoring could turn off potential buyers. Having a small issue left unfixed will leave buyers wondering what larger issues have been neglected. In such a competitive buyer’s market, your house will need to be in the best condition possible.

4) Let There Be Light

Making your home as bright as possible will not only make it appear larger and more welcoming, but dark rooms can actually be a huge turn-off to a prospective buyer. Open up all of the blinds and turn on every light in the house. Be sure to also open all of the doors to every room to make your home as inviting as possible. 

5) Keep it Clean

Let’s be real, no one wants to enter a filthy house, especially someone who is considering buying it. Treat your showings like your in-laws are coming over and make the place sparkle. Scrub down the kitchen and bathroom surfaces, make the beds, dust down the furniture, and make sure all of the carpets are spotless. 

6) Perfect the Kitchen

Considering the kitchen is typically a home’s biggest selling feature, it is crucial that you give this room some extra attention. Make sure the countertops are clean enough to eat on and clear of any unnecessary clutter. Double check that the floors are spotless, all dirty dishes are put away, the refrigerator door is clear, and the trash is taken out to avoid any unwanted odors. 

7) Set the Mood

Buyers want to walk into their dream home, and taking a few small steps to vamp up the ambiance can truly make that a reality. Be sure that your home is at a comfortable temperature, ideally between 70-74 degrees. Spray some air neutralizer to keep everything smelling fresh since the last thing a potential buyer would want is a foul odor. But don’t overdo it with a strong fragrance- this can be equally off-putting to buyers. To make the buyers feel even more welcome, have some classical or jazz music playing in the background, prepare a fresh pot of coffee, and put out a nice vase of flowers. Small details like this will make your home stand out and have buyers remembering the positive feelings they felt in your home.