Showing Your Home

First Impressions are Lasting Impressions

The exterior of your home often determines how buyers will view the interior, so:

Make sure your front entrance is clean and inviting
Paint or replace your front door if it's faded or worn
Add some paint to shutters, trim and any other outside features showing signs of wear
Add vibrant plants and place fresh mulch

Accentuate the Positive

"How we live in a home and how we sell a home are often two different things."

Try to see your home with a fresh perspective and arrange each room to bring out its best attributes, including:

Keep windows and floors clean
Replace faded wallpaper and glue any areas that have come away from the wall
Repair worn 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

Showing Your Home

Inside

Clear all unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house.
Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops.
Clear refrigerator fronts of messages, pictures, etc.
In the bathroom, remove any unnecessary items from countertops, tubs, shower stalls and commode tops.
Rearrange or remove some of the furniture if necessary.
Take down or rearrange certain pictures or object on walls. Patch and paint if necessary.

Nine Minute Drill

Sound: Turn off the television and tune the radio (low volume) to a soft rock, middle of the road or classic rock station.
Sight: Turn on every light in the house (day or night) and open every drape and blind (day time only).
Odors: Heat some frozen pastry slowly in the oven or heat a pan on the stove and then drop in a few drops of vanilla.
Kitchen: Wipe kitchen counters, place dirty dishes in dishwasher.
Bathrooms: Wipe counters, flush and close toilets.
Living/Family Rooms: Hide magazines, newspapers, and games; remove clutter.
Bedrooms: Straighten beds. .
Exterior: Put away toys and clutter. Keep walk clear.

Outside

Trim landscaping to reveal architectural detail
Go around the perimeter of the house into the garage
Check gutters and/or roof for dry rot
Look at all plants…prune bushes and trees. Keep plants from blocking windows. "You can't sell a house if you can't see it."
Weed and then bark all planting areas
Clear patios or decks of all small items, Put them in the garage).
Check paint condition of the house-especially the front door and trim. "Curb appeal really works!"

Goodbye: Sorry, but this is the single most important thing you can do in a showing to help sell your home! Even if the showing agent insists that it is okay to stay, you must leave. Buyers must get emotionally committed to your home to buy it and they cannot become emotional about "their new home" if you, the current owners, are "hanging around." Please, at the very least, go into the backyard. Even better, go to the store.

Premier Real Estate Consultants

321.604.8896

Showing Your Home

Showing Your Home

Inside

Nine Minute Drill

Outside

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