A good home showing is often going to make the difference between closing a deal or not closing it. Buyers are looking at price range, location, and utility, but how your home feels to them is often what matters most. If buyers feel at home when they look around, you've done your job. After all, they aren't just purchasing a house; they are purchasing a future.
Neat and clean
Obviously, a clean place is more pleasant than the alternative, and a buyer is going to feel more attracted to a home that looks good. On top of that, though, this presentation will communicate to the buyer that the home has been well maintained, and is therefore a worthy investment. Clean your house thoroughly. Leave no stone unturned. Take the following under advisement:
- Make it shine and sparkle: Clean the windows, dust and polish finished wood, and mop the floors. The more light is glinting off of surfaces, the better.
- Organize your cabinets and closets: Buyers are going to be opening doors. What they see inside could turn them off. Make sure your dishes and plastic storage containers are neatly stacked, your towels are folded, and all of your clothes are on their hangers. Have things facing the same way. Essentially, your home should look like one out of a catalog.
- Get rid of clutter: Items on tables should be arranged well, and nothing should be just lying around. Make your home feel open and free, not constrictive. Extraneous furniture can be moved to storage or the basement, so there are clear, open pathways to walk through. This will also make the rooms seem more spacious.
- Make whatever minor repairs are necessary: Leaky faucets, cracks, or holes in the wall should all be taken care of. Some would even go so far as to say that a fresh coat of paint on all the walls is necessary. If it has been a while, or if some of your rooms have more "adventurous" color schemes, think about doing that too.
Light
An abundance of light is going to have a positive psychological effect on the buyer. Let as much sunshine in as possible; natural light is the most flattering. Open all your drapes and pull up the blinds, unless the window looks out to an unsavory view. Turn on lights in all the rooms. If you have a room that seems a little bit dark, get a floor spotlight to put behind a piece of furniture.
Make it welcoming
When the buyer first comes into your home, there should be something pleasant to greet them: a vase of flowers, a bowl of wrapped candy, or a welcome note are all excellent ideas. Acknowledge the fact that this person is going to be looking in rooms and closets by leaving doors slightly ajar and the lights on in the rooms. Do not spray perfume or air freshener around; some people are allergic or just generally averse to these products. That being said, natural smells of flowers and spices are pleasant, so long as they aren't overpowering. If you have a gas fireplace, turn it on. You might also put some food out (finger sandwiches, cheese and crackers, etc.) and a guest book.
TIP: You've probably heard that the smell of freshly baked cookies is a useful trick to employ. If you use it, make sure you put some cookies out! Can you imagine the buyer's disappointment when he or she finds out it was only a smell?
Curb appeal
How is your place going to look as the buyer is pulling up to it? Would they be happy to come home from work to what they see?
- Mow the lawn regularly.
- Trim your bushes and maintain your gardens.
- Wash the outside of the house.
- Keep the sidewalks cleared.
- Don't leave clutter in the yard.
Miscellaneous tips
There are many, many things to take into consideration when showing your home. Put yourself in the position of the buyer and ask yourself what would irk you and what would pull you in. Here are some suggestions:
- Don't be there, unless you can't help it. If you are not using an agent, stay as out-of-the-way and inconspicuous as possible.
- Give the buyers a blank slate. An overabundance of your family pictures doesn't give them the ability to envision themselves living in the house. Replace most or all of them with floral prints or other pleasant images. Of course, it might be wise to leave a particularly attractive portrait just where it is. Use your best judgment.
- Remove fixtures you plan to take with you. Don't even give the buyer the option of wanting them--take them down and put them somewhere else.
- Worn rugs, furniture, or bedspreads should be removed or possibly replaced.
- Open the windows if the weather is agreeable.
- Turn off the TV.
- Make sure the house is a comfortable temperature. Turn on the heat in the winter and the air conditioning in the summer.
- Always do a final walkthrough. Pretend you are a potential buyer--when you open the front door, what does the initial impression say? As you look around the house, can you walk and observe easily? Do you feel comfortable? Is this a home that anyone could live in? If the answer to that last question is "yes," then you've done your job.