Tips for Showing Your Home

Following is a checklist of actions you can take to help insure that your home looks its best when we show it:

Make sure your home is kept at a comfortable temperature. If it’s very warm outside and you have air-conditioning, have it on.

Make sure your home smells fresh and clean. Be careful in using air fresheners, candles or fresh flowers, as many people have allergies to these.

Insure you have your home well lit. If it’s being shown during the day, have draperies, shades and blinds drawn open. If it’s being shown in the evening, turn on the lights prior to the showing. Light makes rooms look larger and more appealing.

Radios, stereos, and televisions should be off during the showing to avoid distractions.

Have valuables removed from sight and locked away. Having valuable possessions displayed in your home can invite trouble.

Pets should be removed from the home prior to the showing.

Remove clutter from the home. Have your counter tops clear, remove old newspapers and magazines, remove furniture that detracts from your home or prevents prospective buyers form easily viewing your home.

Insure all clothes are hung properly in the closets. Remove any storage items from your closets, as closet space is often high on buyer’s lists, and they need to be able to properly assess your closet space.

Keep fresh towels and washcloths displayed in the kitchen and bathrooms. Keep the laundry area clean and fresh, removing dirty clothes from the home prior to a showing.

Make sure all trash and garbage are removed from your home and garage. Any garbage containers should be closed, and if necessary, cleaned, to eliminate odors.

All showings should be scheduled and documented through the listing agent/office. While all prospective buyers need to be accompanied, family and guests should not be present during the showing to allow the agent to show the home without the buyer feeling hurried. If you must be present during the showing, remain in the background. The agent will know your property and the needs of the prospective buyer and should be able to answer any questions.