Staging FAQ's- How Can I Prepare My House for a Showing?
Staging FAQ's - How Can I Prepare My House for a Showing?
My friend and Palm Beach County Home Stager Kathy Streib of Room Service Home Staging gives excellent tips on how to prepare a house for a showing. I would add a couple of microfiber cloths to the list!
Staging FAQ’s- How Can I Prepare My House for a Showing?
One of the last questions my clients ask me after a Home Staging Consultation is “How
can I prepare my house for a showing? We still have to live in it every day.”
This is a valid question. None of us lives in a model home- we work, have a family, prepare meals, and basically live in our homes.
So how can we live in our homes and still be ready to show it at a moment’s notice?
Make it a habit
Gather everyone in the household and let them know that the better it shows, the quicker it will sell. Everyone has to get in the habit of picking up after themselves. At the end of the day, walk through the house and pick up, straighten up, clean whatever needs it.
Don’t create any new household smells
I know… you have to live there, but if at all possible try to avoid the big indoor family fish frys or 40 clove of garlic roasted chicken dish. Basically avoid preparing any dishes whose aroma will linger days after.
Rein in the urge to start buying for your new house.
This doesn’t mean you absolutely can’t buy anything for your new home-to-be but think about where you plan to store it.
Pay yourself a visit.
Step outside your front door. Now walk in and see your house as if you were viewing it for the first time. Make sure this is what you want your Buyers to see.
Let there be light.Turn on all of your lights, including bedroom lamps. Don’t leave it for your buyers and their agent to try to fumble around looking for switches.
Pull back the window coverings as well. Let the light in.
Don’t forget the outside!
Most of us here in Florida have pools and plants that can grow a foot overnight. Make sure that your landscaping service is on top of everything, and you or your pool service needs to make sure the pool is kept clean.
Have these items around to help keep things up!
Mr Clean Magic Eraser- great for scuff marks on your floor, cleaning woodwork.
Downy Wrinkle Releaser- works to freshen window coverings, table cloths, bed linen
Swiffer- these are handy for giving your floors a quick once over
Diffusers- the smell of clean is always what you want for a house, but we can add a little help with diffusers. Unlike candles, which can be a fire hazard, you can place these around the house for soft hints of a scent.
Large tote- As a last resort, if you are called about a showing, use this to grab your personal papers and anything else that you have out. Take it with you in your car when you leave for the showing.
Selling your house can be hard on everyone. Using these tips to help keep your house prepared for showings can help keep that stress down.
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