When selling your home, it's important to give potential buyers the best first impression possible of your house. Here are 10 tips to prepare for a home showing.
1. Turn on Lights and Open Blinds
Before you leave your home for a showing, make sure to turn on all the lights and open the blinds to let natural light in. This will help your home to feel more cheerful and inviting.
2. Make Sure Your Home Smells Pleasant
Adding a pleasant scent to your home can help entice buyers. Smells like lemon, pine, vanilla, citrus, and herbs can give buyers a positive view of your home.
3. Put Valuables Out of Sight
While we hope that every potential buyer is trustworthy, it’s always best to put any valuables away and out of sight. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
4. Declutter and Clean the House
Consider putting extra furniture or extra items into storage when selling your home. Decluttering and cleaning the house can help your home feel more open and inviting.
5. Turn Temperature Down on the AC
Help potential buyers feel comfortable by turning down the air conditioning to room temperature or cooler. Hot houses never set a good first impression.
6. Clean Off All Countertops
When countertops are messy, they can set off a bad first impression. Clearing off countertops can help your home to feel larger and more spacious.
7. Put Small Kitchen Appliances Out of Sight
Like clearing off countertops, putting small kitchen appliances away can also help your kitchen to have a good first impression. Roomy kitchens are often a large priority for buyers - this can help your kitchen to feel roomier.
8. Put Away Personal Items
When selling your home, it’s essential to put away personal items (such as photographs, political items, etc.) during home showings. This will help your buyer to envision themselves in the home.
9. Put Down All Toilet Seat Covers
Putting down toilet seat covers is always a good idea. This helps your bathroom to look cleaner.
10. Leave for a While and Take Your Pets with You
There’s nothing more awkward for buyers than looking through a home while the owner is there watching. When showing your home, leave the house for a while, and take your pets with you.