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Appeal to the Homebuyers'
Senses
Tips for Showing Your
Home
Once you've prepared your home for sale, keep a checklist
of items to help you showcase your property to potential
homebuyers. Remember that your home will be judged not only
on its outward appearance, but also on the feelings it evokes
in those who view the property. Buyers who come with agents
are more at ease when the owner's not around, so it is best
if you take your children and pets on a short walk during
the showing.
- Use light to showcase your home.
- Open draperies and shutters in the daytime and turn
on interior and exterior lights (day and night) to accentuate
a cheerful atmosphere.
- If you have a fireplace, burn a Duraflame log.
- Remove any potentially offensive posters or signs.
- Consider playing soft background music while people
tour your home.
- If there is exterior noise, such as traffic or nearby
construction, work with your sales associate to schedule
showings around noisy times of day.
- Turn off the television.
- Grinding fresh lemon in a garbage disposal or boiling
cinnamon sticks can add a clean, fresh scent.
- Candles, pot pourri and flowers look nice and smell
pleasant.
- Baking cookies the day of the showing adds an sweet
aroma to the home.
- Lingering scents of strong-smelling foods, smoke or
pets should be aired out prior to the showing.
- Your home should appear livable.
- Pets should be removed whenever possible.
- Potential homebuyers may like to sit in a living area
and visit with their sales associate.
- Baking cookies or bread before showing the home adds
a pleasant scent to the home.
- Adding to the hospitable atmosphere, potential homebuyers
may also appreciate a cookie or lemonade.
- To ensure your safety, remember to remove keys, jewelry
and other valuables from the home during showings.
- Be sure to share necessary information with your sales
associate and potential homebuyers.
- Gather manuals and warranties on appliances in the
home.
- Make a list of items to be excluded from the sale
of the home and whenever possible, remove them from
the property before your property goes on the market.
(For example, an outdoor hot tub, may look as though
it is part of the home, but you plan to take it with
you when you move.)
- Leave a number where you can be
reached if you are leaving town, even for a weekend.
- If people unaccompanied by an agent
request to see your property, ask if they are prequalified
and if so arrange to show it to them, or refer them
to an agent.
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