How to Prepare Your Home for Showings

Your home should look as attractive as possible when potential buyers come to see it. If you can leave a positive impression on the buyer, you will get a better price for your property.

Here are a few tips to prepare your home for showings:

First impression counts

The first impression that your home leaves on the buyer is very important. If you can leave a positive impression, the visitor may as well turn into a buyer. The first thing you need to do is to keep the front part of your home attractive. If it looks great, buyers may actually want to see the inner parts as well. If the front portion doesn't look good, very few people will bother to venture inside.

If no one visits your home even after you have erected that 'For Sale' sign in the yard, there may be something wrong with the front part.

Clean the drive way. Mow the grass and water your plants. Add some potted flowers and plants to your garden. These small details will instantly make the home more inviting.

Make it look like they can move in immediately

Buyers should be able to move in immediately. At least that is the impression you should leave on them.

Take a second look at your walls

Overly bright colors might appeal to your taste, but they can put off many a potential buyer. Use neutral colors for your walls. If you have dark paints on the walls, the rooms may feel like a cave. By contrast, light shades make your rooms more spacious and lively. Also raise those blinds to let some sunlight in.

Get rid of those foul smells

Your home should look and smell clean. Smells are as important as looks. Foul smells will drive your visitors away. So, do whatever you can to get rid of bad odor. This is particularly important if you have pets. Stale air doesn’t smell good so keep the windows open whenever possible. Let fresh air enter the rooms.

Remove clutter

Clutter makes the space look cramped, so remove all unnecessary objects. If you have too much furniture, you should remove at least a few items. Also keep your closets and cupboards clean and orderly. Visitors might look in them. Remove collectibles and personal items like photos, trophies etc.

Invest in new furnishings

If your curtains and carpets are old, you should consider renting new pieces while you are showing the house. If the furnishings are new, the home may also look new. Also consider applying a fresh coat of paint. This is imperative if there are stains on the walls.

Artwork

Hang some paintings on the walls. If you do not have any artwork, you should consider buying or renting a few pieces.  Nice paintings add a touch of sophistication to the space. They also reveal that the owner has fine tastes.

Replace faulty fixtures

If you have lights that don't work, replace them. Buyers wouldn't want to replace the fixtures, so make sure that they are in working condition.

Hire home stagers

If your budget permits it, you should consider hiring home stagers. They know how to present your home before potential buyers. They will charge a fee, but in the end you will get a bigger price for your home. Besides increasing the selling price, home staging reduces the time it takes to sell the home.