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Kevin Polite
Real Estate Advisor
MIRM, CSP
Phone: 404-299-7100
Email:Email Me
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Showing Your Home to Potential Buyers |
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When you decide you want to sell your home, there are a few very important things to keep in mind when it is being shown to prospective buyers.
1. Be flexible with your time. Your home should always be ready and available for a showing, even though it may be inconvenient for you. If an agent calls you unexpectedly and says they’re in the area and want to show your home, let them. Forcing agents to schedule an appointment is an inconvenience and you will often be skipped over for more cooperative sellers.
2. Lighting. The lighting in your home is what gives it warmth. Turn on all of the indoor and outdoor lights for a showing. Your house looks more attractive and cheerful with lights on during the day and night. Make sure any burnt out lights are changed before the showing.
3. Keep the home clean. A clean home always makes a better impression than a messy one. Put away all loose papers and clutter from your rooms. Take out the trash- especially in the kitchen and bathroom areas. Put pet litter boxes in an inconspicuous place or garage until the showing is over. Wipe down countertops and vacuum the carpeting. Prepare your home as if you would prepare it for a party and you’ll be sure to make a great impression.
4. Go somewhere during the showing. Having the owner around during a showing makes people nervous; after all, it is socially counter-intuitive to be walking around someone else’s house, analyzing it. It can be an uncomfortable situation for both the buyer and the seller so it is best to take a walk or go out for the day. If you cannot leave, stay in one room and do not follow the buyers around. Let their agent answer any questions for them unless you are specifically asked.
5. Avoid fragrances. Some people find fragrances offensive or are allergic. Avoid spraying room fragrances or burning candles.
6. Remove clutter. Take down most or all of your family photos and/or personal items and put them aside. You want the potential buyer to visualize the home as theirs not yours. In addition, too much clutter and knick-knacks will make your home appear smaller than it is in reality. Clear as much away as possible. The home may look ‘bare’ to you, but buyers will have an easier time visualizing themselves living there if it looks as generic as possible.
7. Trim landscaping and manicure your lawn. A trim yard will help your home sell much faster than a yard that has not been tended to frequently. If trees are overgrowing the sidewalk or your front façade, cut them back. Cut the grass and make sure you continually fertilize it. A healthy lawn is always more attractive and is a sign that you take pride in your home. Pressure wash your roof, driveway and sidewalks if possible and weed all gardens.
8. Put pets away or take them with you. Some people are annoyed, allergic or even frightened by animals. Make sure you do not make any potential buyer feel uncomfortable when they are touring your home. Warn the agent at appointment scheduling of your pet and make sure they are caged or removed during a showing. If your dog is going to be upset by seeing visitors and make unusual or annoying noises, remove them from the home altogether during the showing so as not to aggravate the buyers.
9. Make touch ups where necessary. Before you even start showing the home to others, walk around the house and look at it from a fresh prospective. You may even want to ask a neighbor or friend for their opinion on what may need to be freshened, fixed or updated before you try to sell your home. A fresh coat of paint always gives a home a new, clean look. Touch up all holes, marks and scrapes on your walls. Clean the floorboards and touch up the paint on any trim or molding. Repair and clean tile grout. Take a good look at your front door. Remember it is the buyer's first impression. Make sure it is clean and updated.
Following these simple tips will help make your home more desirable than your competition's. If buyers see that you take pride and care into your home, they'll love it just as much as you do.
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