Now that you’re ready to show your home, make sure the buyers feel welcome and can see your home in the best possible light. Here are some general checklist items to keep in mind before letting a buyer into your property whether for an individual showing or an Open House:
NOT SEEN AND NOT HEARD
Send
children and pets off to stay with family or friends until the showing is over.
The fewer distractions you offer, the more the buyer will be able to focus on
your property. Many buyers have allergies. If you have indoor animals, have
carpets and furniture covers cleaned to remove hair, dander and odors.
A GRAND ENTRANCE
Remember,
when a prospect comes to look at your house, the first thing he will see is
your home’s front door! Se sure that everything
about your entrance is fresh and clean. Be sure your yard is free of
refuse and leaves. If it snowed, be certain that you’ve removed the ice and
snow from walks and steps and salted to avoid accidents. If it’s raining, put a
small rug near the front door so buyers can wipe their feet. Also, in the event
of rain, put an umbrella stand or can near the door.
LIGHT AND BRIGHT
Open
those drapes and curtains all the way, so the prospect can see how bright and
cheerful your home is. No one wants to walk into a dark tomb-like house. If
it’s nice outside, open the windows so that fresh air fills the house.
KEEP THE HOME
FIRES BURNING
If
you have a fireplace, (and it’s winter), get the fire going. You’re trying to
make the house feel as much like a home as possible. A warm feeling from the
glow of a fireplace can help set the right emotional stage for the buyer.
LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT
Take
a few minutes to check to be sure that your doors don’t stick or have loose
knobs on them. Don’t forget your windows and cabinet drawers. Get all those
minor flaws fixed since they detract from your home’s value
SAFETY FIRST AND ALWAYS
Keep
stairways clear and clean when showing your home to avoid injuries This will
also avoid detracting your potential buyers from your home.
EASY ACCESS
Unlock
any garages, outside entry basements or storage sheds for the buyers to have
access to. Move all cars out of the driveway from the property (don’t park them
in front of the house either). You may leave 1 car in the garage. Make sure the
garage door is closed.
CLEAN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM
Display
your attic, basement and other utility space [including crawl spaces] by
removing all unnecessary articles. Straighten up every room. Make sure all beds
are made.
BIG CLOSETS
Make
them look bigger by having them neat and well organized to show that your home
has ample closet space.
BATHROOMS SELL HOMES
Make
these rooms SPARKLE! Check and repair any damaged or discolored caulking in the
bathtubs and showers; and, be sure that the towels and rugs are clean and bright.
BEDROOMS SHOULDN’T SLEEP
Keep
these rooms bright and cheerful. Remove any excess furniture and be sure to use
attractive and colorful bedrooms and curtains.
ILLUMINATE
Your
home’s illumination can be a “Welcome” sign to that prospective buyer! Turn on
all of your outside lights when showing your at night and they’ll feel a
glowing warmth as a result of your lighting.
HOME BOOK
You
can easily prepare a Home Book with a small white binder and photograph pages
filled with pictures of your home in different seasons, pictures of the local
schools, churches, shopping, school scores, area information and maps to help
give your buyers a feel for the area.
BE CAUTIOUS
Put
away or remove from the house any valuables or cash. Especially if you’re a
woman alone, never allow yourself to become trapped in a room without exit. Let
a neighbor or friend know that you’re showing the house and to call and check
on you within a prescribed time period. And, of course have all buyers pre-qualified
by a mortgage lender before letting them into your home.
MUSIC PLEASE
When
showing your house, turn off blaring radio or television. Soft and easy
classical or jazz background music can set the right mood, but nothing should
be overpowering. Avoid polka, rap, rock, country or pop as these may offend
some people.
EQUAL HOUSING
Try
not to offend potential buyers with your personal or ethnic icons or shrines.
Too many items of personal or ethnic nature may make some buyers uncomfortable
who have different backgrounds or beliefs. It’s one thing to be proud of what
you believe, but don’t risk losing a sale by not making the potential buyer
feel like this is their new home. You are not selling your lifestyle, but
rather a house.
KEEP UTILITY ROOMS NEAT & CLEAN
Keep
Utility Rooms & Closets free of dirty or unfolded laundry. Keep Washer
& Dryer sparkling, especially if these items are being offered as part of
the sale.
DON’T PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE
Trying
to sell prospective buyers any of the furniture or furnishings, which you are
not taking with you, before they’ve purchased your home, can often lose the
sale. Wait until after all of the conditions of the sale have been met and all
contingencies removed before attempting to sell the buyer’s other personal
property items.
AH, THE AROMA
Put
on a pot of coffee, bake a cake, boil cinnamon on a stove or pour some vanilla
extract onto a cookie sheet and put it in a warm oven to create a “home sweet
home” smell.  |
| www.debbiecheney.com |
No comments:
Post a Comment