1. Clean, clean, and clean again
The most important thing you can do to prepare your home for showings is to clean it thoroughly. This means cleaning every room in your house, from the top to the bottom. Pay special attention to high-traffic areas like the kitchen and bathrooms. You may also want to consider hiring a professional cleaning service to ensure that your home is spotless.
2. Make minor repairs
Take a walk through your home and make a list of any minor repairs that need to be done. This could include things like fixing loose doorknobs, repairing leaky faucets, and patching holes in the walls. Even small repairs can make a big difference in how your home looks to potential buyers.
3. Declutter and depersonalize
Potential buyers want to be able to imagine themselves living in your home, so it's important to declutter and depersonalize your space. This means packing away any personal items, such as family photos, religious symbols, and political memorabilia, guns, dead animals. You may also want to remove any furniture or other items that make your home feel cramped.
4. Stage your home
Home staging is the process of arranging your furniture and accessories in a way that makes your home look its best. If you're not sure how to stage your home yourself, you can hire a professional stager.
5. Let in the natural light
Natural light can make your home look brighter and more inviting. Open up your curtains and blinds during showings to let in as much natural light as possible.
6. Appeal to the senses
While most buyers will be focused on the visual aspects of your home, it's important to appeal to their other senses as well. This means making your home smell good by baking cookies or lighting candles. You may also want to play some soft music in the background.
7. Be prepared to answer questions
Potential buyers will likely have questions about your home, so it's important to be prepared to answer them. This means knowing things like the square footage of your home, the age of the roof, and the last time the HVAC system was serviced. You may also want to prepare a list of features and upgrades that make your home unique. Ensure you REALTOR knows this information.
8. Make it easy to show your home
If you want to sell your home quickly, it's important to make it easy for potential buyers to see it. This means being flexible with your showing schedule and having someone available to show your home at short notice.
9. Be discreet during showings
When potential buyers are touring your home, it's important to be discreet. This means staying in the background and avoiding interrupting their conversation. It's also important to avoid answering any questions about your personal life. Best case, vacate the home and go for some coffee.
10. Follow up with potential buyers
After a showing, it's a good idea to have your REALTOR follow up with potential buyers by sending them a thank-you note or email. This is a great way to stay in touch and answer any questions they may have.
By following these tips, you can make sure your home is in its best possible condition for showings. This will help you attract more buyers and sell your home quickly and for the best possible price.