Prepping your home before a showing can be extremely difficult, especially when you have young kids or pets! Using these tips below can help you not only PREPARE better and on time, but, teach you all the little tricks to making your home DAZZLE & STAND OUT!
PREPPING YOUR HOME BEFORE SHOWINGS:
TO-DO LIST:
- Deep cleaning Remove clutter Tidy up your closet
- Remove odours Remove personal items
- Don’t forget about outside!
- Make that front door presentable!
- Sweep, vaccum, and mop that FLOOR! Make minor repairs if necessary
- Make your house sparkle. Shine the stove, sinks & bathrooms
- Minimize where it’s possible
- Add little detail and touches that matter.
- Set the stage, make it feel like home!
- Step into their shoes
- Open up the curtain and blinds! We want light!
Deep cleaning:
This is the most important step. Make sure everything sparkles, from the hardwood floors and crystal-clear windows to the kitchen countertops and toilets.
Don’t forget the smaller details, either, such as taking out all the trash, doing a final dusting of the fireplace mantle, and wiping down kitchen cabinets.
Remove clutter:
It can be difficult to set up your home like you’re a professional home stager, especially if you have pets and/or young children. But removing clutter is an absolute necessity before showings. Fluff your throw pillows, fold and store all blankets and make sure all shoes are stored neatly in the closet.
Tidy up your closet:
It can be tempting to simply throw everything into a closet the night or an hour before a showing. Doing so certainly declutters the home, but don’t think for a second prospective buyers will simply walk by closets without opening them. The amount of storage space a home offers can be a pivotal selling point for buyers, so they’ll definitely open them to see where they can store their shoes, winter clothes and sporting equipment.
Remove odours:
When walking into a home the first thing you notice is the smell. Make sure your home isn’t too scented, or not at all. Maybe light a candle the morning of, or just be careful of what you cook that day.
Remove personal items:
Pack up your personal photographs, family heirlooms, and other objects and clutter that might distract potential buyers and hurt a possible sale. You want to present buyers with an impersonal, clean environment so they can imagine the home perhaps decorated with their own photographs, furniture, and art objects. Depersonalizing your home makes it easier for potential buyers to visualize how the home might look filled with their own items.
Don’t forget about outside:
Don’t overlook the importance of curb appeal. First impressions are key, and the first thing prospective buyers see when pulling up to the house. Make sure the lawn and landscaping are well manicured and any loose sticks are picked up. Consider adding potted flowers for an extra boost and make sure the driveway and any walking paths are clean and clear of debris.
Make that front door presentable:
As mentioned above, same goes for your front door. That is the first thing a buyer will see. Make your door pretty, classy, and elegant. If you can’t, then just wipe it down and keep it clear & simple.
Sweep,Vaacum,and mop that FLOOR:
A CLEAN floor is very important. Buyers will be walking on the floor all over your hosue, make sure you scrub any stains, and make It shiny! A dirty floor will send buyers away! It Imediantly comes off as a home that is not cared for.
Make minor repairs If necessary:
In some seller’s markets, you can sell a home in lived-in condition without much complaint. But in normal markets or a buyer’s market, repairs can make or break a sale. Replace cracked floor or counter tiles, and patch any holes in the walls. Fix leaky faucets and doors that don’t close properly, as well as kitchen drawers that jam. Consider painting walls neutral colors, especially if they’re currently hot pink or purple. Replace burned-out lightbulbs, and also consider replacing those that have been in service for a while. Avoid the potential of having a bulb blow out when you flip the light switch during a showing. It’s a small incident that can easily be avoided if you are mindful. You want the buyer’s experience to be as positive as possible.
Make your house sparkle:
Walking into a home that has finger prints on all appliances and counter tops comes off as very unattractive to any buyer. Make your place shine! Shine the sink faucets, refrigerator , stove, dishwasher, and showers!
Minimize where it’s possible:
The less furniture, decor, and personal items you have out, the better. In fact, it might even make your home look larger.
Add little detail and touches that matter:
At the end of the day, the property needs to feel like a potential home to buyers. Small touches like fresh flowers or the smell of warm cookies can make all the difference.
Set the stage. Make it feel like home:
Last minute touches! Fluff your pillows, fold your blankets, make that bed and straighten that carpet! Stage the home to make it look well cared for and as clean and neat as possible.
Step into their shoes:
linger in the doorway of each room, and imagine how your house will look to a buyer. Examine how the furniture is arranged, and rearrange pieces until the room achieves visual appeal. Make sure window coverings hang evenly. Once you’ve cleaned and gotten everything repaired and organized, you can begin staging your home.
Open up those curtains and blinds:
Natural light is TOP 3 of the most important things to do before a showing. We want BRIGHT. You want your home to look as clean, bright, and as modern as possible. Opening those blinds will make your home look 10x better.