Home Selling Guide

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It’s showtime!

Upon listing your home, buyers will want to take a tour. As buyers are thorough when it comes to inspecting a potential home, you’ll want to keep everything in order, at all times. While it may be inconvenient to be especially tidy during this time, you’ll reap the rewards by presenting your home in the best possible light. When your home is clean, organized and in show condition, it will stand apart from the many others a potential buyer has seen.

The first step to making your home ready for showtime is a lock box. This device makes showing your home very convenient. Other realtors can show your home, without having to locate the key each time, or making an appointment. You place your house key inside this box, and attach it to a convenient place. Only realtors, bonded and approved by the local real estate board, have an assigned code to access this box. Codes are changed each month. The box also records the codes of the realtors who have recently visited your home.

Your home should always be available for viewing. Most agents will call you and give you a few hours notice prior to showing your home. Be cooperative and unless absolutely unavoidable, don’t cancel the showing. Buyers like to see a home as quickly as possible. This, however, works to your advantage. When a buyer sees a home quickly and likes it, you’ll get an offer sooner, rather than later.

Treat yourself
Buyers like to have complete access to your home. Some, however, may feel reluctant to view your home as thoroughly as they would like if the seller is home. When you give buyers the opportunity to fully explore your home, you’re sending a positive message – you have nothing to hide. When your home is being shown, take yourself out for coffee, go shopping, or take the kids to a park. If you have to be at home, be sure to remain in one room, out of the way. While it is appropriate to greet buyers at the door, don’t volunteer any information. Simply say, “nice to see you,” and let your realtor handle it from there.

Lighting
Prior to the buyers arrival, turn on all the indoor and outdoor lights – even during the day. At night, a well-lit homes creates a lived-in, warm impression when viewed from the street. In full light, during the day, full lighting diminishes the harsh shadows created from sunlight. In full view, your home looks inviting, welcome and ready for a new buyer.

Fragrances
Avoid using scented sprays. They tend to be very obvious, and in most cases, too overpowering. A buyer may get the wrong idea. Many people also have allergies. For a pleasant aroma, have a potpourri pot simmering. Even better, keep the pot simmering throughout the entire time your home is listed. It’s a simple matter to keep a potpourri pot filled with water and fragrance, rather than scrambling each time a buyer visits. You might forget this important element to a successful sale. Another idea is to prepare some baking (either yourself or from a bakery) such as cinnamon rolls, or other bread product. Put these unbaked pieces in the freezer. Before you head out for coffee set your oven on a low temperature (275 – 300 C) and let the baking warm your home. When you get home, after an hour or so, you’ll have fresh baking waiting for you.

Pet management
Be sure to advise your realtor of any pets you own. If possible, try and have a neighbor or family member board your pet while you are showing your home. Pets may become confused and disoriented in the presence of visitors. When you are out of the house during the showing, perhaps you can take your pet with you.

If your pet has to remain at home during the showing, try to keep it contained in the backyard (for dogs), or perhaps a specific room for indoor cats. Be sure to post a sign on the door, in consideration of your visitors, and the cat. Frequently, noise and unfamiliar people frighten cats. They usually hide until things are back to normal. Some however, may panic and try to escape.

Remove all garbage
Be mindful of the kitchen and bathroom areas, the places where buyers tend to scrutinize the most. Be sure these areas are clean and disinfected prior to showing. All garbage should be removed, even if the garbage is kept under the sink. Buyers look everywhere. Kitchen garbage bags are an inexpensive item, when you’re considering the impression you want to make on a potential buyer.

Keep your home tidy and organized
While it will take more effort than normal keep your home clean and organized throughout the listing period. It’s worth it to get up a few minutes early to make the bed and wash the dishes. Pick up papers. Organized the mail. Throw out magazines or stack them neatly on the shelf. Dust and vacuum as frequently as you can. You want your home to look at its best – anytime a potential buyer visits – and that could be at an hour’s notice.