|
|
Showtime!
 Your
house has been checked, inspected, and cleaned from top to bottom. You have priced it at what you feel is a fair
price. The marketing and advertising program is in full swing. Now it is time to put all of the preparation into
action: showings! All of the work that you have done up to this point will only have an effect when a buyer walks
into your house for the first time.
|
Showing Your House To Maximum Advantage
|
|
|
Give all family members assigned jobs in advance that will go into action
when a short-notice showing is scheduled. Everyone must know their duties and carry them out, so that you don't
end up banging into one another trying to get everything done quickly. |
|
|
Open every window covering. All drapes, curtains and blinds should be positioned
to let in maximum light. Buyers like a house to be "light and bright," so accommodate them! Turn on as
many lights as possible. |
|
|
Make sure the house smells good. Baking cookies, often recommended, may be overdoing it, but pet odors,
smoke, or greasy cooking odors definitely will not work! Air out the house just before the scheduled showing, but close the windows
(unless it is a perfect day) before they arrive. |
|
|
Six very important words: no clutter, no clutter, no clutter! |
|
|
Make sure that everything is spotless. Pay particular attention to the bathrooms
and the kitchen. In the bathrooms, towels should be fresh and clean, sinks and baths scrubbed, and the floor freshly
cleaned. In the kitchen, make sure all dishes are put away and countertops and sinks cleaned. |
|
|
Check the thermostat to make sure that the house is at a comfortable temperature. |
|
|
Remove pets from the house, or at least, keep them outside. Pets under foot
will quickly put a damper on an otherwise positive showing. |
|
|
Make sure Fact
Sheets are available and easily accessible. (The dining room
table is an ideal place for them). |
|
|
If you are using an Agent, leave! If this is not possible, make yourself as inconspicuous as possible. If it is
comfortable outside, go there until the buyers leave. If you are selling on your own, of course, you don't have
this luxury. If this is the case, be as helpful as you can but don't crowd the buyers. |
|
