When you’re getting ready to sell your house, one of the most important things to do is make it look its best. This lets potential buyers imagine themselves living in the home, and making a few small changes can help them do just that. With no hassle and for little cost, you can make some impactful changes that will help your home sell quickly. Here are 10 tips for preparing your home for showings.
1. Clean up Clutter
Get the buyers to see the home, not your stuff. So, before a showing, declutter and remove any personal items from sight. This includes things like family photos, collections and knick-knacks.
You want the house to look clean and spacious, so less is more in this case. If you need to, rent a storage unit to store some of your belongings temporarily. Whether you are staging Folly Beach homes for sale in South Carolina or winter homes in Vermont, cleaning the space is crucial.
2. Depersonalize the Space by Removing Family Photos and Personal Touches
This means removing any family photos or other personal touches that could make it difficult for potential buyers to see the home as their own. If you have time, consider repainting walls with neutral colors. This will help create an inviting and blank canvas that buyers can easily envision making their own.
In addition, if you have any unique or eccentric taste in décor, it’s time to tone it down. Allow the customer to see themselves living in the home, and that may not be easy if your taste is too specific.
3. Clean and Polish All Surfaces
After decluttering, focus on making all surfaces shine. This means dusting, sweeping, mopping and vacuuming every nook and cranny. Clean windows (inside and out), mirrors, cabinets, appliances — anything and everything potential buyers will see when they walk through your home. A little elbow grease goes a long way in making a good impression. If you don’t have time to do it yourself, consider hiring a professional cleaning service.
4. Repair Any Damage or Fix Any Broken Fixtures
If there are any broken fixtures or if there’s any damage in your home, now is the time to repair it. This includes things like leaky faucets, loose doorknobs and cracked tiles.
You want potential buyers to see a well-maintained, move-in-ready home. Take care of anything that could give them pause. Be keen on making your home look fresh and new. You can quickly search for how to make small repairs around the house. You may want to hire a professional if the damage is more significant.
5. Stage the Home With Furniture and Decor That Emphasizes Its Best Features
Once your home is clean, decluttered and in good repair, it’s time to focus on staging. This means arranging furniture and decor to highlight the home’s best features. If you have nice built-ins or a fireplace, ensure they are prominently displayed. And, if you have a large backyard or patio, stage it in a way that makes it look inviting and relaxing.
Make potential buyers feel at home the minute they walk through the door. So, think about how you want to arrange things. And, if you’re not sure where to start, plenty of resources are available online, or you could even hire a professional stager.
6. Create Curb Appeal by Sprucing up the Outside of Your Home
First impressions matter, so ensure your home looks good from the minute potential buyers pull up. This means trimming the bushes, mowing the lawn and adding some color with flowers or potted plants.
Consider a fresh coat of paint if your front door looks worn. And, if your house number is hard to see, make sure it’s prominently displayed. Let potential buyers find your home with ease. Wash the windows and powerwash the outside of your home. These small things can make a big difference in curb appeal in Kiawah Island real estate, along with any other real estate for sale.
7. Ensure Your Home Is Well-Lit
A well-lit home feels warm, inviting and spacious. So, make sure all rooms are well-lit before showings. This means opening blinds and curtains and turning on all the lights (even if it’s during the day).
Consider adding additional lighting if you have any dark corners or rooms. You can find affordable lamps or even add some track lighting. The goal is to ensure potential buyers can see every aspect of your home.
8. Set the Temperature to a Comfortable Level
You want potential buyers to feel comfortable when they walk into your home. So, make sure the temperature is set to a nice level.
You may want to turn up the heat if it’s cold outside. And, if it’s hot, consider turning on the air conditioning. Open some windows to let in a nice breeze. Just be sure to avoid any extreme temperatures that would make potential buyers uncomfortable.
9. Make Sure Your Home Has a Pleasant Smell
No one wants to walk into a smelly home. So, make sure your house has a pleasant smell before showings. This could mean baking some cookies or brewing some fresh coffee. Light candles or use air fresheners. Just be sure not to go overboard. Don’t let your home smell like a candle store.
And, if you have pets, be sure to remove any pet odors before showings. This means cleaning up pet messes and using air fresheners or candles to eliminate lingering smells.
10. Add Some Final Touches
Once you’ve taken care of the big things, it’s time to focus on the little details. This means ensuring there are fresh towels in the bathrooms, all beds are made and there are no dishes in the sink.
You also want to ensure no toys or personal items are out in the open. Potential buyers should be able to visualize themselves living in your home, and that’s hard to do when it’s full of your stuff.
Conclusion
Take some time to add those final touches before showings. It will make a big difference! These are just a few tips to help you in preparing your home for showings. By taking the time to do things right, you’ll be one step closer to selling your home.
