Setting Up For Successful Showings

Acquiring the highest market value often comes down to first impressions. But the phrase “first impressions” can be vague and confusing, especially when trying to apply it to a home. There are several ways you can set up your home for a successful showing. The best part? They’re inexpensive and will help maximize your home's appeal for buyer showings:

So, let’s break it down.

The most important thing to define when cultivating a welcoming space and preparing your home for showings is how you want your potential buyer to feel when they arrive at your property. Write down a list of descriptive words that you hope someone might experience when they attend a showing.

A few examples might be:

• Welcoming

• Warm

• Clean

• Spacious

• Cozy

• Inviting

• Calm

Next, you’ll want to take an inventory of the state of your property’s exterior. This checklist may appear simple and straightforward, but these small touches culminate in creating the overall curb appeal of your home.

Exterior:

• Keep the grass freshly cut and remove yard clutter.

• Apply fresh paint to wooden fences.

• Paint the front door.

• Weed and apply fresh mulch to garden beds.

• Clean windows inside and out.

• Wash or paint home’s exterior.

• Tighten and clean all door handles.

• Ensure gutters and downspouts are firmly attached.

Now that you’ve taken care of the exterior, it’s time to check on your interior. The inside of your home receives the most wear and tear, so it’s important to pay attention to detail. While some of these steps may require professional home services experts, like repairing any plumbing leaks, you’ll be glad you took care of this when you enter the negotiating stage of the selling process.

Interior:

• Remove excessive wall hangings, furniture and knick knacks (consider a temporary storage unit).

• Clean or paint walls and ceilings.

• Shampoo carpets.

• Clean and organize cabinets and closets.

• Repair all plumbing leaks, including faucets and drain traps.

• Clean all light fixtures.

Once these larger checklist items in and around your home are taken care of, you can focus on making sure you apply these finishing touches prior to each showing.

Before each showing:

• Turn on all the lights.

• Open drapes in the daytime.

• Keep pets secured outdoors.

• Play quiet background music.

• Light the fireplace (if seasonally appropriate).

• Infuse home with a comforting scent like apple spice or vanilla.

• Vacate the property while it is being shown.

Setting your home up for a successful showing requires work, but is a crucial investment if you want to sell your home for its full value.