You’ve made up your mind, it’s time to sell and move on to a new chapter in your life. I get it, it may seem exciting and overwhelming all at once, but there are some things that you must pay attention to – setting up your home for a showing being one of the most important. A good showing speaks volumes – when done properly, it can give the buyers a good visual image of how they can make it their own home. So without further delay, let me walk you through some of the best ways to increase your property value and dazzle those prospective buyers.

Clear up!

Before cleaning, make sure you move all clutter and personal belongings out of direct sight if you can.

• Toss all clean dishes into cabinets, don’t leave any dirty dishes in the sinks/dishwashers
• Anything you haven’t used in over a year, toss it into a box and put it in storage. It’ll be easier this way packing for the long-run and you’ll have less to clean around later.
• Remove or replace anything you plan to keep, if you have built-in appliances you plan to keep which could mislead a buyer, try to remove it before a showing. This applies to odd items like lighting and window fixtures.

Fix!

After everything has been moved, packed or hidden away, focus on fixing any minor flaws you see that could lower the price on your property. This includes;

• Patch any minor holes in the walls left-over from drilling fixtures like picture frames.
• Fix any leaks, including roofs, faucets, and hoses.
• Lubricate any jammed doors, drawers, and cabinets.

Clean up!

Remember, even though it may not be a newly constructed property, everyone likes to feel like they’re buying something new. Here’s a checklist of commonly overlooked items.

• Cobwebs in corners of rooms
• Baseboards
• Window sills and window panes
• Tubs, showers, and sinks
• Stoves
• Doors

Lights!

There won’t be anything to look at if your place is dimly lit and grimy, pay attention to what lights are being used where.

• If you have an accented wall accommodate it with accent lighting that shows off and draws attention to that part of the house. Incandescent light bulbs are a cheap option that produce a warm, glowing light that’s good for accents.
• Professional areas of the house, such as a small office or an in-home gym should preferably be lit up with bright, white lights that are close to natural daylight. Halogen bulbs usually come with the brightest options, while being significantly cheaper than their LCD counterparts.
• Keep the brightest lights in the kitchen while leaving the ones with less blue light in the bedroom. Charlston Lights has a good basic calculator that shows how much it takes to light up different areas in your home.

Exterior!

This may not apply to all properties like condominiums and apartments but it is definitely important nonetheless.

• Based on the season, make sure to have the lawn cut, shoveled or swept off leaves.
• If you have lawn ornaments or left-over Christmas lights, remove them. Blank canvases are good places for potential homeowners to imagine what their ideal house would look like.
• Paint! If your door, walls or entrances are badly damaged, spend a small amount fixing it. The outside of your home is a buyer’s first impression, make sure it’s good!
• Clean up; if you have stray objects on your lawn or pets, potential buyers could injure themselves. This is true for landscaped front yards as well.

Touch-up!

Smaller things such as checking the temperature and smell of your home are important, An ideal home temperature is around 21c/70f, however, keep in mind that potential buyers will only be exposed to your environment for a limited time so if it’s hot or cold outside, slightly adjust your temperature accordingly. Polish your windows, wood, and panels and make your countertops sparkle. Small additions like flowers go a long way too.

 

When all this is done, make sure to have your home photographed and assessed by your Realtor as well as make sure to have everything ready. Keep paperwork, extra keys and other home-related items that are specific to you readily available, and most important of all, remember to stay safe.

Having trouble setting everything up to your satisfaction? To make your life easier, I offer free home evaluations, where I offer concrete numbers on how much your house would sell for in the current market. Get in touch with me today for more information, and direct tips on how to prepare your home for a showing.