Tips for better home showings

Via Flickr: Pat Williams

When your home is on the market, it's under the spotlight. Buyers are scrutinizing the value of your home based on its location, its amenities and its appearance.

So, when it comes time to open your home for potential buyers you need to put your best foot forward. Here are a number of items to keep in mind to ensure your home showings are successful

Remove clutter and clear off counters 

Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too.

Wash your windows and screens

This will help get more light into the interior of the home and demonstrates pride of ownership.

Keep everything extra clean

A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well-cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator. Polish your doorknobs and address numbers. It’s worth hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.

Rid your house of smells
Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows to air out the house. Potpourri or scented candles will help.

Turn on the lights and brighten your rooms

Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned-out bulbs in closets. Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of neutral color paint.

Fix it up with minor repairs

Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well-maintained.

Get your yard in shape
Cut the grass, rake the leaves, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters. For added curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the entryway.

Patch holes

Repair any holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

Use vibrant colors in the living room

A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room. Buy new accent pillows for the sofa.

Make the bathrooms feel luxurious 

Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and fancy guest soaps. Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of sight.

Lock up valuables, jewelry, and money 

While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing or open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.

Leave the home

It’s usually best if the sellers are not at home. It’s awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.