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It is a buyer’s market, and potential home buyers have their pick of homes. If you want yours to sell, follow these home showing tips to help you put your home’s best foot forward.
Not too Warm, Not too Cold
Temperature is very important in a home, especially on a day when the temperatures outside may be more extreme. A home that is on the chilly side will leave buyers with the impression that it is cold and uninviting, while a home that is too warm is viewed as uncomfortable. Set the proper mood for the potential homebuyers by maintaining the proper temperature inside.
What is That Smell?
Be very careful if you are using scent in some way. If you want to bake cookies, that is fine. Leave a plate of them on the counter along with a note. Anything that adds a perfumed scent to the air is usually a bad idea. Buyers often wonder what you are trying to cover up.
Let the Sun Shine In!
Open the shades and turn on the lights. Buyers who view your home with all the shades drawn may feel closed in or claustrophobic and sense that the house is dark and unfriendly.
Keep it Squeaky Clean
It is vitally important that your home look its absolute best from the moment it’s put on the market. Do not plan to clean it up once you put it up for sale, clean it up beforehand. The entire home needs to be neat, clean and pristine.
The Outside is as Important as the Inside
Many buyers will pull up to a home, take one look at the yard and exterior, then drive away. It is vital that your home look outstanding and inviting on the outside. The first thought in your buyer’s mind should be “wow” when they pull up to your house. This means making sure the lawn is mowed or the sidewalk shoveled. Bushes, trees and hedges should be trimmed. If the season is right, include lots of color with flowers and lush green plants. New exterior paint will pay for itself in terms of enhancing your home’s curb appeal. Park your cars in the garage, rather than the driveway.
Little Things Mean a Lot
Don’t forget to fix all the little stuff. This means replacing any burned out light bulbs, oiling squeaky hinges, making sure all doors and windows open easily and don’t stick, shoring up leaky faucets and so on. Buyers will wonder if there is a bigger problem with your house if they stumble across several little issues.
Lay it on the Line
Buyers appreciate transparency, so if you have a copy of your HOA guidelines, dues, any recent newsletters and so on, place those in a spot where buyers can look through them if they’d like. Make a list of all the services the HOA fee includes to better inform buyers as well. |
