Showing a home is more than just opening the door and letting buyers come in to look. If that is what your agent recommends you should definitely fire them!
We understand that your home is not perfect. I will be the first to admit that if you came to my house right now, it would be quite messy. I have paperwork piling on my desk, my dogs’ toys are all over the living room floor and there may be a few dishes in the sink.
Showing your home requires some ahead of time preparation. Here are 5 tips to help you navigate through this task.
Eliminate Clutter – Clear the home of all clutter. You want the home to be inviting and neutral. It’s always good to have a fresh pair of eyes as we can easily overlook items that you see every day. If you’re in San Francisco where homes are tiny, it is important to remove big items to make the home appear bigger.
Clean up and tuck away – There are two main areas you should focus on. Those areas are the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure to tuck away all pots, pans, forks, knives and drying racks. We want buyers to focus on those beautiful marble countertops, not the rusty pan you use to cook eggs every morning. For the bathroom, make sure those towels are neat, toothbrush are hidden and the toilet seat is covered. It may help to scrub the grout as well.
Clear the Way – No one likes roadblocks! The same goes for the hallways in your home. Make sure potential homebuyers can breeze through your home easily and effortlessly.
Remove Personal Items — Family pictures, children’s artwork and other personal items should be removed or pared down to avoid distraction. Personal belongings can also make it hard for potential buyers to imagine themselves living in the house.
Remember Curb Appeal – First impressions are everything. If it’s ugly on the outside homebuyers will automatically assume the whole house is horrendous. It is more important than ever to have great curb appeal. Mow the lawn, paint the house and make it inviting!