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How to Quickly Prepare for Showings

Reblogger Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Realty NRDS # 146013739

In the daily hectic life of a seller, it is hard to remember all the things you need to do for showing your home.  Jeff Dowler has put together a nice little checklist as a reminder on what are some best practices when showing a home.  Eliminate as many distractions as possible; such as odors, mess and clutter and very personal touches such as photos. Keep security in mind as well.  Don't leave passwords or expensive or irreplaceable items out. 

Original content by Jeff Dowler, CRS CA DRE #01490977

Tips for Getting Your Home Ready for Showings in Minutes

 

How NOT to show a houseIn our busy, competitive market activity is strong, with scores of buyers attending open houses and agents busy taking buyers out for house showings.

 

For those homeowners fortunate to be in the position of being in a local market that favors sellers, being showing ready is essential...at all times. This is especially true in the first couple of weeks after you go live on the MLS.

 

Here are some video tips on how to sell a house!

 

Life is busy – perhaps with jobs or working at home, kids, pets, chores, entertaining, exercising, and so on. How does one continue to do what needs to be done yet at the same time have the house ready for showings at all times. As some sellers said yesterday when I listed their home and they spent hours getting their home ready for the photo shoot – this is NOT how we live every day.

 

Truer words couldn’t be spoken.

 

Pack things away for showingsHowever, if you are serious about selling, you must face the fact you are likely to get many requests for showings, so you have to be prepared. The best solution, of course, is to have your home ready to welcome buyers any second. Always.

 

Your reality may be quite different.

 

QUICK TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR SHOWINGS

So here are some easy tips to help prepare for showings in a short amount of time.

 

Let in the light! Open the drapes, curtains, shutters and/or blinds

Turn on all the lights

Make the beds

Be sure all toilet seats are down

Run the vacuum quickly

Make sure all appliances are off (no one wants to listen to your dishwasher)

Have AC on if it’s hot or furnace if it’s cold

Pick up clothes and toys

Wipe off kitchen counters and table(s)

Remove any dirty dishes or laundry laying around

Have a cat? Be sure the litter box is cleaned out and hidden away

If you have a dog, pick up any dog droppings in the yard

Make sure there are feature sheets and other information your Realtor provided on the table

Leave the house before showing time

 

Some sellers want to run around and light every scented candle in sight. Personally, I wouldn’t. Buyers may be suspicious you are hiding something (which of course you aren’t, right?!). And some may be allergic. You want to encourage buyers to hang out and enjoy your home, not want to leave as fast as possible because of the smell that makes them sneeze or wheeze.

 

PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY AT SHOWINGS 

Another key component of showing preparation (this goes for open houses, too) is to protect your identity. Be sure to remove personal items and items of value (jewelry, small tech devices), as well as any documents that contain personal identity and account information (e.g., leases, bank account statements, credit card accounts).

 

Being prepared for showings will help you avoid the stress and anxiety of running around at the last minute frantically throwing things in closets (which buyers will look in anyhow). Or worse, running out of time and having your home not look as good as it should.

 

 

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad homes and real estate for sale and surrounding areas, the housing market in general (or locally), or otherwise assist you, friends or family in a home search or sale, please contact my mobile office or text me at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com

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Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

Nice re-blog.  This is a great list of how to get ready for showings.

May 05, 2016 12:25 AM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Good morning Sheri.  Good re-blog, timeless suggestions when one has a home on the market.

May 05, 2016 07:46 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Sheri. I wish stories like this was fiction, unfortunately that is not the case.

May 06, 2016 01:34 AM