As a listing agent for home sellers in Central Florida, I’m often asked how to best prepare for a showing. Below are the Top 8 things I suggest to our sellers:
- Cut the grass & pull the weeds: When buyers pull up to a home and get out of their car, the lawn is one of the first things they notice. If the grass is overgrown or there are weeds everywhere, address it. Curb appeal is essential!
- Turn the lights on in all rooms/make sure bulbs are working: It’s frustrating to a buyer when bulbs are out and they can’t “see” in bedrooms, closets or laundry rooms because there is no light.
- Open window blinds/shutters/curtains: Natural light is often times an appealing feature to buyers. If you have it, showcase it!
- Empty the trash cans: It shouldn’t be a surprise, but buyers don’t care to see (or smell) what you had for dinner the night before, or see your bathroom wastebaskets filled with your personal trash.
- Flush the toilets AND put the toilet seats down: While this may seem like common sense, it’s a total turn-off for the buyer to see a peed-in toilet that hasn’t been flushed.
- Deodorize: If you have pets or cooked something that may be offensive to a buyer (fish, garlic, curry), use a deodorizing spray to help minimize the smell. Buyers are highly sensitive to smells and sellers need to know it can “make or break” a sale for some buyers.
- De-personalize as much as possible: Family photos, collectibles, trophies, diplomas and personal mail should be packed up or stored out of sight. Buyers are curious by nature and there is no reason for them to know anything about the seller, but instead, focus on the home itself.
- Leave!!: When a seller asks if they should leave the home when there is a showing, I always reply with “YES!!” Buyers should be given the freedom to take as much time as they want to look at the home without feeling the pressure from the seller watching over them.
For the past 10 years, I have been helping Central Florida sellers market and sell their homes. When meeting with sellers, I share these tips (along with others) to help them sell their home faster & for more money than their competition. If you are a seller in Central Florida and are in need of a listing agent who knows the market and who will properly advise you, I would welcome the opportunity!
Happy Selling!
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