Preparing Your Home for Showing

First impressions count with buyers. You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression, so a small investment in time and money can give your house the advantage over competing homes in your neighborhood when it comes time for your sales representative to show it to a prospective buyer.
Here are some suggestions for preparing your home for showing.

Well Maintained

			Repair leaky taps and toilets				Clean furnace and humidifier

			Tighten door knobs, cupboard latches				Repair cracked plaster

			Touch up chipped paint				Clean and repair windows

			Repair seals around tub and basin				Replace burned out light bulbs
			Touch up chipped paint

			Oil squeaking doors

Create A Buying Mood

			Arrange to be absent during the showing				Turn on all lights

			Turn on air conditioning				Light fireplace

			Open drapes in the daytime				Play quiet background music

Cleanliness

			Clean and freshen bathrooms				Clean refrigerator and stove

			Clean washer, dryer, and laundry tubs				Clean furnace exterior

			Clean carpets

Lots Of Space

			Clear halls and stairs of clutter				Store surplus furniture

			Clear kitchen counters and stove				Make closets neat and tidy

When The Door Opens

			Clean and tidy porch and foyer				Does the doorbell work?

			Is the door hardware in good shape?				Is the air fresh?

			Touch up paint

Curb Appeal

			Cut lawns				Trim hedges and shrubs

			Weed and edge garden				Pick up litter

			Clear drive and walkway of snow and leaves				Repair soffits and eaves troughs

Valuables

			Take jewelry and valuables with you during the open house or lock them safely away

			Take precautions to ensure property (such as objects of art, vases, figurines, mementos) are safely situated out of reach or locked away