Make every effort to accept all appointments — you never know when your buyer will walk through the front door, or better yet, pull in the driveway and have their agent call “just to take a quick look.” The most attractive properties to buyers are those that show pride of ownership, with attention given to every detail. Here are some tips to help make the most of your showing.
- Turn off the television and tune the radio (low volume) to a soft rock, middle of the road or classic rock station.
- Turn on every light in the house (day or night) and open every drape and blind (daytime only).
- Infuse the home with a comforting scent, such as apple spice or vanilla. You can even heat a frozen pastry slowly in the oven. Just don’t overdo it.
- Keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Air-conditioning is a must on warm days.
- Wipe kitchen counters. Place dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
- Wipe counters. Flush toilets and close their lids. Buy new towels if needed for display.
- Keep fresh towels and washcloths displayed. Laundry should be done often to keep laundry area clean and fresh.
- Hide magazines and newspapers, put away games and toys; remove clutter.
- Remove as many personal or family photos as you can without making the home look empty. People want to see themselves in your home, not be reminded that someone else made a home here previously.
- Straighten beds. Hide clutter under bed (not in closet).
- Keep clothes hung properly in the closet; and if used for a storage area, clean out.
- Having valuable possessions displayed in your home is only inviting trouble. They’re best placed out of sight, or out of the home.
- Keep walkways outside clear.
- All trash and garbage should be removed from the home and garage. Open containers are unsightly as well as giving off odors.
- Keep pets secured outside or in their pen.
- Vacate the property while it’s being shown.
You might think most of these are common sense “to-do” items for showing a home, but after many years in real estate, you would be surprised at some of the things we’ve seen while showing a house. A quick glance at this list each time you receive an appointment could easily help you get that offer you’ve been waiting on so patiently.