We’ve all heard the real estate adage, “Location, location, location”. But location is the one of the few things that sellers have little control over when they are listing a home. So, it’s often better to focus on what sellers can control – like preparing your home for a showing.
Sellers should realize that things like outside curb appeal, indoor staging, de-cluttering, and depersonalizing are not trivial – they are essential components to quickly selling a home. By being proactive, sellers can offer a home that is appealing to a wide variety of prospective buyers.
Often times, when your home is on the market, your home needs to be ready for a showing within a few hours, so many of these things should be done in advance, and simply “refreshed” daily or weekly.
Everyone knows that a clean, tidy, and welcoming home makes a better impression than a cluttered, unkempt one. Let’s explore some of the best ways to prepare your home for a showing.
(You can also opt for hired help from various house cleaning agencies. Look them up on the internet pr better still, hire Maid2Match Cairns)
1) Outside Curb Appeal – If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times – but curb appeal really does matter. It’s a fact that potential buyers make a snap judgment of your home based on its landscaping and flowers, condition of the grass, quality of the driveway, and even paint color of the house and shutters. While you can’t easily change the color of your home, you can ensure that the yard looks tidy and well cared for, now a days you have the possibility to buy artificial grass online which could make your house look a lot more appealing.
Take some time to walk around your property to pick up sticks and branches after storms, keep the grass mowed every other week, and if it’s possible (spring through fall) plant some bright flowers in pots, window boxes, or hanging from a hook.
A $50 investment in flowers will give potential buyers the impression that the pople who live in the home cares about the property. If there is a fence around part or all of your property, take a few hours to give it a fresh coat of paint. If you are not a handy person, do not be shy to hire builders to make any fixes, or painters to apply fresh paint. You want your property to look good and clean not amateur or sloppy, it is better to hire people than to do a bad job. It will make a world of difference, as the Homestyle Painting Winnipeg experts assure. And your neighbors might thank you, too!
2) Indoor Staging – It can be helpful to have a professional staging consultant come into your home to assist with moving furniture so that it provides easy access and navigation, and promotes conversation. If your living room has a fireplace, make it the focal point by arranging furniture like the Tulip dining set around it. If you have great natural light and large windows with a view, highlight that. It’s also important to remove excess furniture from rooms because it can become an obstruction and make rooms seem a lot smaller than they really are. Make sure to get rid of algae in and around your swimming pools to make a good impression.
3) Declutter and Depersonalize – This is a hard one for most people to do, but it is critically important. No one wants to walk into your home and have to push toys, dirty sneakers, and laundry out of their way. And even though your wedding and the birth of children are monumentally important occasions, dozens and dozens of family pics can make it difficult for some potential buyers to see themselves in the home. They literally and figuratively cannot see past your family.
The idea isn’t to strip away all personality, but to make the home feel neutral, so others can envision themselves living in and enjoying the space. Some of the most important areas to declutter are bathrooms, the kitchen (clear off the counter!), and the living room.
4) Maintain Order, even in a Home with Kids – Let’s face it. If you have kids living in your home, it’s a challenge to keep even one space tidy at all times, let alone a whole house. But, if you make a concerted effort to keep toys in one area, prospective buyers won’t be overwhelmed. Choose a kids’ bedroom or corner of the living room, and not the kitchen, bathroom, and at-home office, as these are public spaces and should remain as neutral as possible.
5) The Importance of Lighting – Lighting is essential to any successful showing. If you have great natural light, open the curtains and let the sun shine in. If a showing is late in the day, on a cloudy day, or at night, consider turning on at least one light in every room, and invest in dimmer switches for lights. It’s amazing how cozy a $10 dimmer can make a room feel.
6) Check the Thermostat – If you’re showing a home in the winter, keep the home well heated on all levels. You may like it cool in the winter, but you don’t want guests shivering as they make their way through the bedrooms. In the summer, keep the temperature cool and make use of ceiling fans to provide a little air movement.
7) Offer a Small Snack for Guests – While this isn’t always possible, it certainly makes a good impression to have a plate of fresh cookies or trail mix and apples on the kitchen counter for prospective buyers to take with them. It doesn’t need to be fussy or fancy, just thoughtful. If you can’t bake something or prepare a snack, light a mildly scented candle to give guests a cozy feeling when they walk in.
8) Do Not Tag Along – Above all, give the prospective buyers and their real estate agent some privacy. You should not be in the home when it’s being shown, unless it is specifically requested. Your presence will likely make potential buyers feel like they are being “watched” as they walk through the home, which can be uncomfortable for everyone involved. If you want honest feedback about your home, ask the real estate agent. They will be more than willing to give you constructive criticism.
When your home is on the market and you’re eager to sell, it’s essential to realize just how important it is to focus on the details – the way your home looks on the outside and inside, the way it smells, and the way light plays off of furniture and flooring. By being proactive, sellers can offer a home that is appealing to a wide variety of prospective buyers, from singles, to couples, to empty nesters and retired couples.
Emotion plays a large part in creating an interest in your home from a potential buyer. Make sure that your home puts its “best foot forward” will enhance the likelihood of a solid offer that you’re willing to entertain.
When your home is on the market, you are very much at the mercy of the prospective buyers – and their schedule typically prevails. So, it’s important to be ready to show your home within a few hours of notice. Many of these items should be done in advance, and simply “refreshed” each week.
Selling a Home in Lewisburg, Mifflinburg, Sunbury or Selinsgrove?
Looking to sell your home in Lewisburg, Mifflinburg, Sunbury or Selinsgrove? If so, call the Bowen Agency at (570) 743-2165. Bowen is the trusted real estate agency to buy or sell homes in Central Pennsylvania.
