Preparing Your Home for Showing
"First Impressions
Count."
"You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First
Impression."
"First Impressions are Lasting Impressions."
As tired and banal as these clichs may sound to
you, the reason why they are clichs is because they
are true.
The decision to buy a house is not solely based upon
rational factors such as price, location and
accessibility to services. It is also an emotional
choice. It is a search for a home, a place in which
one will find comfort, security and happiness, a
place one would want to settle down and live in.
Emotions are set early, so it is important that
minor, even typical, nuisances such as an unmowed
lawn or a pile of boots by the door are looked
after. As unfair as it might be to your home, after
only fifteen seconds most buyers have already
developed a perception of your property that will
color their feelings for the rest of the showing and
perhaps dramatically affect their perceived value of
the property.
Here is a
list of suggestions for creating a favorable
first impression: |
"Love at
first sight..." |
"Cleanliness is a virtue" |
-
Plant flowers, weed and edge gardens
-
Mow lawn and trim hedges and shrubs
-
Clean driveway and sidewalks of dirt, leaves or snow
-
Water the lawn extensively, well in advance of
selling
-
Remove old lawn ornaments, toys and play sets
-
Clean and repair rain gutters and siding
-
Touch up exterior paint
-
Clean out garage
-
Pick up any litter
|
- Make mirrors glitter and appliances sparkle
- Wash and polish all floors
- Clean and freshen bathrooms
- Clean/shampoo all carpets
- Clean all windows, walls, doors and trim
|
"This
place looks neat and tidy" |
"It
certainly is well maintained"
|
-
Clear all countertops
-
De-clutter all heavy traffic areas
-
Store surplus furniture to reduce feeling crowded
-
Put seasonal clothing into storage
-
Clear halls and stairs of clutter
-
Make all closets neat & tidy
(and only half-full, even if this means moving items
to another storage area)
|
-
Touch up interior paint and paper
-
Repair cracked plaster
-
Tighten door knobs and cupboard latches
-
Oil any squeaky doors
-
Repair leaky plumbing (taps, shower heads and
toilets)
-
Repair seals/caulking around bathtub and sinks
-
Replace burnt-out light bulbs/install brighter bulbs
-
Clean furnace and humidifier
-
Repair any other minor flaws
|
The
"PRESENTATION" |
-
Turn on all lights
-
Open all drapes in daytime
-
Play quiet background music
-
Turn on air-conditioning or light fireplace
-
Keep pets outside during showings (or, better yet,
at a friend's)
-
Have as few people in the house as possible. If you
can, be absent during any showings as potential
buyers often feel awkward and rush through if they
think they are inconveniencing the owner.
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