Preparing Your Home for Showings

You only get one chance to make a first impression. The first thing a potential buyer sees is your home from the street. The “curb appeal” that your home offers up to a prospective buyer is extremely important.

Start at the front yard: Fertilize, if necessary, to keep the lawn green. Keep things neat and well manicured. Always remove ice and snow from steps and sidewalks during the winter.
Your front door is the "welcome" sign to prospective buyers - Make sure the entry is clean, free from cob webs, leaves, and dirt. Paint the door if needed. Seasonal decorations, such as a wreath, add a welcoming and inviting touch.
Deferred Maintenance makes buyers uneasy - That scuffed wall, the shrinking silicone at the counter top, nicks in the woodwork - all those minor imperfections that we often overlook in our own homes tend to turn prospective buyers off. Buyers typically look at these types of items and overestimate the cost of maintenance and repairs. Faded paint and scratched walls, as well as any dinged up woodwork, should be restored to good condition. A little paint and furniture polish can go a long way in increasing the appeal of your home, ultimately increasing the value.
The brighter the better - Clean windows and open blinds to highlight your walls and ceilings. By letting in natural light, you are letting buyers see how bright, cheery and inviting your home can be.
Avoid clutter - Buyers have a hard time looking past clutter. By removing items that you seldom use, or that a potential buyer may seldom use, you let people see the space your home has to offer. Items such as newspapers and toys should be put away, and stairways should be clean and free of clutter as well. All of this makes spaces seem larger and projects that the home is well cared for.
A clean kitchen is a must - Many buyers judge housekeeping based on the condition of the kitchen. The oven and the stove are particular points of focus. Make sure both look as shiny as possible. Clean the interior of your dishwasher, removing stains, especially on the door. Clean out and organize your kitchen cabinets, packing away unnecessary items. Counters should be clean and free of clutter, as well, especially unused kitchen appliances.
Squeaky clean bathrooms will help sell your home - All tile, grouting and linoleum should be clean and free of soap scum. Repair/replace missing grout and silicone caulking where needed. Bath fixtures should be free of water marks and polished. If there is a window in your bathroom, open it to allow a fresh breeze to flow through.
Make closets appear larger - Put off-season clothing away in storage. By removing items that can be packed or stored elsewhere, closets appear neat and organized, making them seem larger and more enticing to buyers.
Check major repairs - Most buyers in today's market will be hiring a home inspector to inspect any potential home. Those inspectors will check all the major appliances because major appliance repair is something that very few prospective buyers would look forward to. Have the furnace serviced or at minimum, replace the furnace filter and clean the exterior. Drain a pail of water from the heater in order to remove rust particles, and apply oil to noisy appliance fans as a quick remedy. Be sure not to overlook cleaning the exterior of the water heater and other major appliances that will be seen by prospective buyers and inspectors.
Making repairs ahead of time can mean a higher price and less headaches later - Since buyers tend to overestimate the cost of most repairs, it is generally in your best interest to make necessary repairs yourself rather than leave it to them. If closet doors or screen doors are off track, or if doorknobs are loose, fix them. Dripping faucets and cracked molding also suggest neglect to prospective buyers. By fixing them now you should be able to get top dollar for your house.
Eliminate distractions - Having a lot of people in the house while it is being shown can be very distracting for buyers and it can make them uncomfortable. Try to have as few people around, none if possible, to put the buyer at ease to absorb all of the advantages your property has to offer. Most people like dogs, but some people and/or children are uncomfortable around strange animals and they distract attention, so try to keep your pet out of the way during showings.
Let your agent do the talking - If a prospective buyer asks you questions or starts a conversation about your home, be polite, but try to avoid entering an in-depth discussion with them about the property. Like they used to say, loose lips sink ships! Your broker is trained to increase the buyers’ interest in your property and easily overcome objections they might voice plus you don't want to show your cards on price or motivation to sell which are all negotiating tools.
Night showings - In order to best highlight your property during evening showings, turn on porch lights and any other outside lights. Insure all light bulbs are in working order and replace any that are burnt out. Inside, try to have the house well lit throughout when the potential buyer and their agent show up.
Sell the house, not the sofa - Do not attempt to sweeten the deal by offering to sell the prospective buyer furniture, rugs or drapes in the house, etc. This practice will detract from the interest created in your home and may create problems later on. If any property is desired by the prospective buyer, discuss these issues with your agent at a later date so they can make sure everything is well documented in any contract or offer that might be made.

Ask your Realtor for the name of a staging consultant to help you with staging your home - A staging consultant will go over most of the things highlighted above and can show you how to increase your home’s sales appeal.