Showing Your Home

By Don Rich

Your home should always be available to show.   The listing agent will put a lock box on your home to make it easy for agents to show your home to potential homebuyers. 

Hopefully agents will give you a few hours notice before they show a home, but be prepared, sometimes that notice is not given.   Have your home as close to “show perfect” every day.  Additionally, many buyers work full time jobs.   It is not uncommon to have a home showing right at the dinner hour.  This can and probably will happen.  Be accommodating.  

Try Not to be Home

Homebuyers will feel like intruders if you are home and will not feel comfortable viewing your home if you are on the premises.   Take the family out for ice cream or a park.  If buyers (and the buyers agent) appear before you have left, excuse yourself as quickly as possible.  

Drive by Viewers

Occasionally the situation arises where a potential buyer drives by and wants to view your home – maybe they see you outside getting mail or mowing the lawn.   Be friendly and cordial, but DO NOT let a stranger in your home.   Call your listing agent immediately and see if your listing agent can bring them through your home at a later time.  

Pets

Make sure your agent puts a notice in the listing about your pets.  If you know a buyer will be by shortly take your dog for a walk.   If you have indoor cats, leave a notice by the front door so the buyers are not startled and do not let the cats out.  

Fragrances

Slight fragrances can add to the presentation of the home, however they should not be overpowering.   Keep in mind some buyers have allergies.  Shampooing the carpet with deodorizers such as Arm and Hammer are good ideas, but again, it must be done with enough time before the showing that the odor is not too strong when the buyers arrive.   If you have enough time before a showing, pop some ready bake cookies in the oven to give your house that homey feel. 

 Lighting

Turn on all lights when you have a showing – even during the daytime.   You don’t want any room to look dim or drab.  Take you blinds and turn them slightly up.   This way the light will reflect up towards the ceiling making the room brighter. 

Personal Décor

Your family photos may be your pride and joy, but in the case of selling your home, you want your potential buyer to imagine themselves walking through their “new” home.   If there are too many nick nacks or family photos, the potential buyers may be more likely to feel like an intruder. 

Cleanliness

The home must be “model” perfect.   All beds made.  All floors vacuumed and mopped.  Have a bottle of windex by every sink so in the morning after getting ready for work or school, you can quickly wipe down the sinks.