This sounds like a total no-brainer and the most obvious thing in the world, but it’s worth mentioning anyway: buying a home is the largest investment that most people make.
That’s why home showings are so important. How your home is prepped and what buyers walk into when they visit can determine how fast you’ll be able to sell your home.
So, what can you expect at showings? Simply put, your home will be on full display. Buyers will look at anything and everything and will critique it at every turn. How your home shows can be a deciding factor in whether or not a visitor turns into an actual buyer.
As such, there are certain things you should and shouldn’t do before a showing. Consider the following tips to keep your home ready for showings at all times.
Stage The Home
Before you even put your home up for sale, it’s always recommended to have your home staged. Whether you do this yourself or hire someone to do it for you, a staged home can sell faster and for more money than a home that has not had any work done to it.
Staging is all about selling a lifestyle. It’s not about furnishing or decorating a home to appeal to your tastes, but to the tastes of buyers. If you can make your home attractive to buyers, you can help foster an emotional connection between buyers and your home, which is exactly what will prompt them to put in an offer.
Keep The Place Nice & Tidy
Every time you leave the house, make sure you leave it in a tidy fashion. Try not to go out without ensuring that everything has been put in its proper place. Shoes should be tossed in the closet, toys should be put away, and laundry should be folded and tucked in drawers.
While showings are generally made with a few hours’ notice, there are times when last-minute showings are booked. Rather than turn these showings down (and risk losing a potential buyer), keep your home in show-ready condition at all times so you don’t have to rush home to clean things up before the buyer shows up.
Take The Garbage Out
Garbage that has been left to fester can leave an unpleasant odour that can waft through the home. Buyers don’t want to walk into a home that smells bad. In fact, even if your home is properly staged and attractively furnished and decorated, a bad smell can easily turn buyers off. Be sure to take the garbage out before a showing in order to ensure your home’s interior is left smelling pleasant.
Do Not Cook Before Showings
Unless you’re planning to bake an apple pie, it’s usually not recommended to cook shortly before a buyer shows up. This is especially true if you’re cooking fish or making something with potent spices. Hardly anyone will appreciate a home that smells like salmon doused in curry, for example.
If you must cook, do so well before a showing is booked. Better yet, consider heading out for dinner so there’s no chance of leaving your home smelling like supper.
Do The Dishes
Whether you do them manually or prefer to use a dishwasher, at no time should you ever have dirty dishes piled in your sink. It’s a total turn-off to buyers. And even after they’re done, they should be put away in their proper place.
Leave The Light’s On
You want buyers to be able to see as much of your home as possible without having to figure out where all the lights are. They shouldn’t have to walk into a home that is dark and dingy. Instead, keep all the lights on – including those in closets and the garage, if applicable. Buyers will appreciate walking into an illuminated home.
Keep Pet’s At Bay
Pets probably shouldn’t be left to roam freely while strangers are walking around your home. Instead, consider either taking them with you, leaving them at a neighbour’s, or keeping them caged. Many buyers are fine with animals, but others are not. Besides, you don’t want to take the chance of your furry friend escaping your home because a visiting buyer inadvertently left the door open.
Be Conscious Of The Interior Temperature
If you’re showing your home in the winter, make sure the temperature inside is warm and toasty. If you’re showing in the summer, make sure the A/C is on. The point is, the temperature inside should be comfortable. You don’t want prospective buyers to be sweating or freezing while visiting your home.
Final Thoughts
When you’ve managed to entice buyers to schedule a showing for your home, you don’t want to blow it. Keeping your home in show-ready condition at all times is essential. Keep these tips in mind when you’re ready to host your first visitor!