Maintaining a House to Showcase Can be Stressful!

Keeping a house in pristine showcase condition can result in a higher offer and within less time. Steps are needed to prepare a house to be showcase ready, but maintaining the showcase appearance is equally as important. When prospective buyers arrive at a house, they know within seconds if they will consider it as a future home. The importance of having a home showcase ready at all times will result in higher priced offers and will tend to offer more favorable terms for the seller.

WHERE DO I START? If you followed my “Want to avoid the stress of getting your house ready to sell? Step by step guide to preparing your house to sell faster and for more money” you will be in a good starting place. The following tips will help you keep a house in showcase condition.

Mission

EXTERIOR/CURB APPEAL:

The saying “You’ll never have a second chance to create a good first impression” is very true when it comes to a potential buyer looking at a home. The first impression that a buyer will gather of a home is the exterior and curb appeal.

Make sure that the lawn is freshly cut, leaves raked, or driveway shoveled, depending on the season. There is nothing pleasant to a buyer that has to walk through two feet of snow to get to the front door
Clean up any lawn tools, toys and pet waste
Pay attention to plants, if the plants are dead or dying, they should be removed and/or replaced

Vision

CLUTTER:

One of the most noticeable things to a potential buyer is clutter. The most prevalent clutter areas are countertops, stairs, entryways and closets.

Clear areas of shoes, coats and hats

Keep personal mail out-of-sight

Mission

KITCHEN:

The kitchen is typically the biggest selling feature and ensuring it is clean and prepared for a showing is extremely important.

Clear the countertops of unnecessary items/small appliances and clutter
Keep the countertops sparkling
Don’t use your refrigerator as a bulletin board. It’s great to show off your child’s “A+” on their spelling test, but not when your home is on the market. The exterior of the refrigerator should be clear
Making sure the kitchen floor is clean is important; potential buyer is not going to be impressed when they “stick to the floor”
Under no circumstance should you have dirty dishes in the sink, this is a huge turn off for buyers
Empty the dishwasher (yes, potential buyers will look!)
Wipe down the kitchen sink and faucet to remove any water spots
Appliances should be wiped down to remove fingerprints

Vision

BATHROOM:

Bathrooms are typically the second biggest selling feature of a home. The appearance of an organized and clean bathroom can go a long way with a potential buyer.

Clean and clear the vanity top of clutter
Clean the floor
Remove personal items such as medications from cabinets
Clean the tub and shower while removing any toiletries from these areas as well

Organize and tidy up the linen closet while hanging nicely folded and clean towels in their appropriate location

Mission

BEDROOM:

Bedrooms can be a deal breaker for a buyer. If a home’s bedrooms are on the “smaller” side, it is critical that a potential buyer can see that they are both practical and functional.

Make the bed and add some decorative pillows and/or a throw
Remove personal items and valuables
Organize and tidy up closet(s) to show maximum storage capabilities

Vision

FLOORS:

Like mentioned above with the kitchen and bathroom floors, all floors throughout a home should be cleaned before a showing.

Carpeted rooms should be vacuumed and free from stains
For heavy traffic areas and/or heavily stained areas, check with your Real Estate Agent for recommendations on replacing carpeting; this is a quick and low cost selling tip that will increase value
Wood and tile floors should be free of dirt and debris

Mission

WINDOWS:

A buyer is often concerned with the quality of windows in a potential home and will be inspected by a potential buyer.

Clean all windows and remove any fingerprints
Make sure all blinds and drapes are clean and functioning
If weather allows, crack a window to allow some fresh air to flow through the home
Open the blinds and drapes to allow natural light in a room

Vision

FLOORS:

Like mentioned above with the kitchen and bathroom floors, all floors throughout a home should be cleaned before a showing.

Carpeted rooms should be vacuumed and free from stains
For heavy traffic areas and/or heavily stained areas, check with your Real Estate Agent for recommendations on replacing carpeting; this is a quick and low cost selling tip that will increase value
Wood and tile floors should be free of dirt and debris

Mission

TEMPERATURE:

The temperature of your home can make or break the comfort a potential buyer feels when they open the door. The less comfortable the temperature is in the home, the less time a potential buyer will spend in the home.

During colder months, set the thermostat between 68 and 73 degrees to allow a potential buyer to feel a sense of a warm and cozy home
During warmer months, set the thermostat between 68 and 72 degrees to allow a potential buyer to instantly feel relief from the outside heat

Vision

FLOORS:

Like mentioned above with the kitchen and bathroom floors, all floors throughout a home should be cleaned before a showing.

Carpeted rooms should be vacuumed and free from stains
For heavy traffic areas and/or heavily stained areas, check with your Real Estate Agent for recommendations on replacing carpeting; this is a quick and low cost selling tip that will increase value
Wood and tile floors should be free of dirt and debris

Mission

SET THE STAGE:

Going through the process of showings and open houses is no doubt an interruption to your life, following these tips will minimize the time on the market and maximize the sale price.

Turn every light on to make spaces appear larger

If time permits, bake some fresh cookies and leave them on the kitchen counter with a note stating, “welcome home!”
For dining areas, set the table with some nice table settings

Are you thinking of selling your home in Central Ohio? If so, contact us, we’d be happy to share with you our advice on ways to prepare your home for the Central Ohio Real Estate Market and showings.

Chris Mylin has a unique advantage to the real estate industry as he is actively licensed in both Mortgage Lending and Real Estate Sales. There are many high quality professionals in each industry; however, it is extremely rare that a Realtor understands the intricacies of the Mortgage process and conversely the Mortgage professional understand the intricacies of the real estate transaction. Chris is an expert in both which offers you as the client a competitive edge.