Preparing Your Home for Showings

How we live in a home vs how we sell a home is often two completely different ways of life. The pressure is on to make sure that your home is "picture perfect" and is ready not only for photography day but also ready for showings. It is imperative that you try to see your home with a fresh perspective and arrange each room to bring out its best attributes. See below for our helpful tips and tricks!

IF IT IS BROKEN, FIX IT! IF IT IS DIRTY, CLEAN IT!  

  • Keep windows and floors clean.
  • Replace faded wallpaper and glue any areas that have come away from the wall.
  • Repair worn or damaged woodwork.
  • Repaint scarred or dirty walls in a neutral color.
  • Steam clean carpeting or replace it, if necessary.
  • Repair loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers, broken light switches, and other minor flaws.
  • Check and repair caulking in bathtubs and showers. 

DECLUTTERING IS A KEY TASK - LET THE BUYER IMAGINE THEIR OWN ITEMS IN THE HOME  

  • Remove all unnecessary clutter from your attic, basement, and closets to better display spacious rooms (consider storage or a garage sale to dispose of extraneous items).
  • Arrange all your rooms neatly and remove excess furniture. Keep decorative objects on the furniture restricted to groups of 1, 3, or 5 items. Keep fresh, clean towels in the bathroom.
  • Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops. If it hasn't been used for three months…put it away!
  • Clear refrigerator fronts of messages, pictures, etc. (A sparse kitchen helps buyers mentally move their own things into your kitchen.)
  • Remove personal decor items or pictures. 

THE OUTSIDE APPEARANCE COUNTS TOO!  

  • Go around the perimeter of the house and move all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc., into the garage or trash.
  • Make sure the gutters are cleaned out and the downspouts are properly attached.
  • Prune bushes and trees. Keep plants from blocking windows. 
  • Keep lawn freshly cut and fertilized. Remove any dead plants or weeds.
  • Clear patios or decks of clutter and debris. Depending on the season in which you are selling, you may be able to have vibrant plants and patio furniture out. If selling in the winter, things should be organized and clean, and no dead plants on display. Laughing
  • Check the paint condition of the house-especially the front door and trim. 

For additional tips to prepare for your photography appointment and showings, check out our complimentary photo prep guide. PhotoPrep_IgniteTeam_PlatinumRealty.pdf