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What Does "Show Ready" Mean?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Beam & Branch Realty TREC #547752

What Does "Show Ready" Mean?

 

When you decide to place your home on the market, there are many things that you need to do to prepare properly. You may have heard the phrase, "Show Ready" as you begin to plan, stage and have your home marketed to sell. "Show Ready" is a phrase that we use in real estate to let everyone know that a particular home is prepped and ready for potential buyers to see it.

 

So what do you need to do to make your home "Show Ready"?  You really are preparing to "show off" your home so taking some extra steps to present the home in the best possible way does take some work and some planning. Take a moment to walk through each and every room of the house and take a walk around the exterior of the home to really evaluate each area. Consider having your real estate professional do this with you to take notes and to make suggestions.

 

  • Clean, clean, clean! Inside and out must be squeaky clean. Baseboards, cobwebs, eves of the home, etc.
  • Windows need to be sparkling clean as well. I typically suggest having them professionally cleaned inside and out.
  • Power wash walkways, concrete and other areas that may have a dirty build-up.
  • De-clutter! Every closet and storage area! Get it done and you will be that much ahead of the game when you do receive an offer on the home.
  • Take down personal items such a photographs, diplomas, etc. Allow the home to be as non-personalized as possible.
  • Consider removing large pieces of furniture and thinning out the amount of furniture in each room.
  • Make every bed everyday when showing the home!
  • Turn on table lamps and lights during showings.
  • Open the drapes and shades and let as much natural light in as possible.
  • If you own "collections" of certain items, consider going ahead and packing them up prior to placing the home on the market. You don't want anything to get broken or damaged and this will help to protect your treasured possessions.
  • Put away all jewelry, medicines, small electronics, etc.
  • Evaluate unsightly bunches of electrical cords.  Try and minimize them and put them out of sight.
  • Consider hiring a professional Stager who can help you maximize each room by moving furniture and staging strategic vignettes throughout the home.
  • Plant some fresh flowers at the front entry way for a little color and pop!
  • Take a whiff and make sure your home smells fresh and clean!
  • A little light and soothing background music is never a bad thing.

Once you have prepared, packed, cleaned out and cleaned up, you are ready for the SHOW! The hard work will pay off when you receive that offer! "Show Ready" homes truly do make a difference to buyers. 

 

Chevaux Group, PLLC is your go-to real estate professionals who know how to assist you in preparing and mareting your home to sell!  Give us a call today!  We love to help you become, "Show Ready"!

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Comments(27)

Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Michele Milic appreciate the kudos on the pic.  From my own personal home!  No place like home right?

Jun 03, 2015 06:21 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Paula -- this is a great post on "show ready".  I think that if sellers follow these tips they will have a house will sell quickly so long as it is priced appropriately.

Jun 03, 2015 12:54 PM
John Novak
Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV
Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

"Show ready" means the house is ready for its closeup, and you've given a comprehensive bullet list on how to get there!

Jun 03, 2015 01:44 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Paula McDonald great tips on making the home SHOW READY!

Now I can share that with my clients.....thanks!

Jun 03, 2015 02:59 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I have a listing that is "coming soon" and I've been waiting and waiting for the sellers to get it show ready.  It's taken a couple of weeks longer than I expected.

Jun 03, 2015 03:08 PM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Paula, I think one of our showings read your blog this week. It was set up like this in everyway. Great advice for sellers.

Jun 03, 2015 09:17 PM
Brian Sharkey
SharkeyRE LLC - Singer Island, FL
SharkeyRE

Paula nice house great advice.  Did you mention clean? !!! :)

Jun 03, 2015 10:59 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

After doing what your fine post points out, the house is clearly saying BUY ME

Jun 03, 2015 11:46 PM
Curt Hess
ExecuHome Realty - Annapolis, MD
Luxury Home Consultant, Team Leader & CEO

I also chuckle when I read "Easy to Show" -- as if that makes this property special. Come 'on folks, you can dream up better phrases to sell, can't you?

Jun 04, 2015 12:04 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Paula, Show Ready means when we walk in we are WOWED by what we see, smell and feel. We do get a feeling … and the feeling needs to be a feel good feeling when we are looking at home.

Jun 04, 2015 12:16 AM
Dan Dee McGinnis The Pumpkin Man
HomeSmart - Phoenix, AZ
The Pumpkin Man

Paula,

NADOTA post when you have this and the price is right, any house in any moarket any time should sell within a week.

Jun 04, 2015 01:47 AM
Stefan Winter
Real Estate in IL & NV | Owner of Real Estate Web Tech | Daily Vlogger - Las Vegas, NV
Owner - Winter Group & Real Estate Web Tech

It is amazing some of the things you have to point out to a seller, this is certainly a post to share with them. 

Putting away medications, jewlery, valuable (easily movable) electronics and guns (if the home owner has them) is the most important thing I always make sure to mention. I've heard stories of people literally only touring homes in hopes of finding those things.

Jun 04, 2015 02:08 AM
Michael Blue
Home Smart Realty West - Encinitas, CA
REALTOR - 760-889-8877, Encinitas/Carlsbad

We know what your view of show ready means... but it is relative to the individual.  My single mom with 3 kids with just enough to provide for the family may have a diferent view. My job is to maximize each clients situation and not put them into my box (view) of show ready.  My experience in this business helps me deal with my clients for their best outcome...even if the check list is not up to someone else's standards. If you were talking bad pictures, now that's my responsibility, those will be top notch regardless of the homes over all condition.

Jun 04, 2015 04:36 AM
Candy Miles-Crocker
Online Real Estate Agent Training - Chevy Chase, DC
Realtor - Real-Life Real Estate Training

What a fantastic list!  I just wish all sellers would do these items!

Jun 04, 2015 08:25 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Such valuable information on preparing a home for sale!  Well done!

Jun 05, 2015 04:30 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I'm happy if they will just get the dirty dishes out of the sink and make the darned beds. In your photo, where in the world did find those cabinets that flank the fireplace? It's a perfect fit, so I'm wondering if they are custom or if this is just a stock photo you found.

Jun 05, 2015 05:16 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Great list of items to help anyone see what is a must when working to sell a home.  Working together to make sellers accountable for showings will help ensure the best presence to everyone.  Great post!

Jun 06, 2015 01:15 PM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Paula - Having a home show ready is critical to getting a home sold fast and for more money, and needs to be done prior to making it available to the public and any potential buyers.

Jun 07, 2015 03:32 AM
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Paula McDonald " So what do you need to do to make your home "Show Ready"?  You really are preparing to "show off" your home so taking some extra steps to present the home in the best possible way does take some work and some planning."

Right on target - and - re-blog!

Feb 10, 2017 04:41 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Paula

There are some great suggestions here for sellers to better understand how to get ready for prime time. It' surprising how many photos in the MLS do not reflect a home that is ready for viewing, as well as some you see in person.

Jeff

Feb 11, 2017 05:35 AM