Selling your home can be exciting but emotional, as you sell your home to new buyers and let go of your past for a fresh start. When it comes time for showings, you need to ensure that your home is in perfect condition so that it appeals to anyone coming to view your home with interest to buy. First impressions are so important for a house viewing, so you need to ensure that it sets the right tone as soon as the potential buyers arrive.
To improve your home showings, there are various things you can do in preparation to ensure the process is as streamlined as possible. We have prepared this guide to help you with some of the steps you must take to get your home in peak condition when the time comes to schedule the showings. We will let you into all the tips and tricks to make your home shine, so continue reading this insightful guide!
How to Prepare Your Home for a Showing
Seek Advice From an Estate Agent
Before you begin preparing your home for a showing, it could be worthwhile getting advice from your estate agent, who will have experience at hosting showings in a range of different houses. They can help to give you advice about what tweaks you can make to your home to attract potential buyers. It’s very likely that they suggest something that you might not have thought about previously.
Garden Maintenance
As we mentioned earlier, the first impression is arguably the most important part of the showing, with most potential buyers gaining a fixed mindset about a property within the first few minutes. The first look at the outside of a property will make them decide whether or not they are going to give it a fair chance upon entry. Therefore, it’s vital that your garden is up to scratch and this can be accomplished through good gardening maintenance. Ensuring that there are organic lawn care practices, the home exterior is washed and the driveway is cleaned will give off the best first impression.
Remove Clutter
Clutter will be a major put-off for many potential buyers coming to view your home, as it can make a space look unkempt and like the current owners don’t respect it. This means that you should remove any children’s toys, loose wiring or unnecessary home decor and store them away during a viewing. One area of the home that people often forget to declutter is the garage, so make sure to do this before the showing commences.
Bathroom Cleanse
The most important room in the home to keep clean is the bathroom, as it’s very easy for this room to look unkept and dirty if it is not washed thoroughly. Mould buildup in the bathroom is very common due to high humidity levels that are caused by the combination of steam from hot showers and poor ventilation. With regular house cleaning, this mould can be avoided. You can also shower with the window open, use a dehumidifier and invest in mould-resistant shower curtains to keep your bathroom clean.
Repair Damages
In the build up to a showing, you need to make sure that any scheduled maintenance is carried out beforehand. Any signs of damage need repairing well in advance to the date of the first viewing. This includes any wall cracks, pipe leaks, electrical issues, roof damage or foundation problems, as all of these could deter potential buyers from putting in an offer for your home. If you are unable to get everything fixed before the showings, you can ask your agent to let potential buyers know that issues will be solved before the sale of the property.
Eliminate Odors
It’s difficult to notice any strange odours in your home, as your nose could be too used to the smell inside the house. To help with this, you can get a friend or neighbour to help you find the source of any odours that are currently present in your home. You can then focus on eliminating any peculiar odours that could affect your chances of successfully selling the property. Having scented candles or diffusers around the house can help with this. You can also use lemon juice in your appliances to eliminate any foul smells that exist.
Add Styling Accessories
The little things can make people feel good about the space they’re in. Adding styling accessories to your home, such as flowers, candles and luxury cushions around the home can add life to the house’s atmosphere and trigger positive emotions in the mind of the potential buyer. You can use the marketing photographs taken by your estate agent to ensure that all the styling elements match up.
Leave (With Pets)
When it’s time for the showings to happen, you should leave your home to give any potential buyers the freedom to view the house without any pressure. You should also take any pets with you, as some potential buyers might not appreciate any cats or dogs lingering around the property during their viewing. If it’s not possible to leave your home with your pets, you can select one room in your home and stay there during the showings.