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6 Quick Things to do Before Showing Your New Orleans Home

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Crescent City Living LLC Licensed LA RE Commission

New Orleans real estate 

The sign is up. 

The lockbox is installed. 

Now the appointment requests are starting to roll in.

Once your house is on the market, you'll quickly discover that sometimes you don't get very much notice that an agent wants to show your New Orleans home. 

What are the most important things you can do to quickly prepare for a last minute showing?

Ditch the clutter

Truly, your agent doesn't care if you kick the laundry under the bed or hide things behind the sofa. What they care about is the buyer envisioning themselves at home in your home and making an offer. Make a quick survey of the house and ditch the clutter quickly. 

Make your bed

We all have our mother in our ear when someone says "make your bed". But Mom was right. Bedrooms magically appear bigger and better when beds are neatly made. And all of that stuff hanging around on the nightstands and dresser? Sweep it into a drawer and no one will be the wiser. 

Sell it, don't smell it

A spritz of Febreze can freshen up the house, but those scented plug-ins in every room are a no-no. Some people can't tolerate the scents and others will wonder what you're trying to cover up.

Let the sunshine in

Open your curtains and/or blinds and let as much natural light in as possible. You want buyers to get a good look at every room, not wonder if the man-cave is really a cave because it's so dark. 

Don't forget your pets

Pets are a touchy subject, I know. But there's not much worse than a pet "surprise" being tracked from the backyard into the house! Take a run around tthe yard and clean up before leaving (and taking Sparky with you).

Scoot on out

We did mention that you shouldn't be home during showings, didn't we? No matter how strongly you feel that you are the best possible source of information on your home, leave. Am-scray. Get out. Leave the showings to the buyer agent, who knows exactly what his or her clients are looking for and what amenities they need to point out. Your presence can do more harm than good, so take our advice with the tough love it's intended. 

 

Need more New Orleans home selling tips? Call us at 504-327-5303 and we'll be happy to help you create a plan to get your home sold.

Comments (3)

Rosemarie Heindel
Harry Norman Realtors - Big Canoe, GA
Rosemarie Heindel

Wow great tips here and I love the the picture of the pink house. looks like a typical New Orleans house but even sweeter than most!

Apr 12, 2016 06:48 AM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker

Hi Rosemarie! Another Heindel? I wonder if we are family somewhere down the line.

Apr 12, 2016 09:54 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Great prep list for all sellers, not just those in New Orleans.  Love that pink house, btw.

Apr 19, 2016 08:35 AM