How to Sell a Home
Video Tips Series for Carlsbad Home Sellers
~ Preparing for Showings ~
Selling your Carlsbad home is a complicated, challenging process. It takes time and dedication, no matter how experienced you might be as a seller. Even though our inventory is low and favors sellers that does not mean selling your home is an easy job. Plus there’s lots to know.
My “How to Sell a Home” tips and advice video series provides quick answers to important issues you face when selling your Carlsbad home, BEFORE you get started. You can view these videos on your iPhone, SmartPhone, or Tablet.
In this article we talk about the critical task of preparing for showings.
Check out the video below to learn more about how you should prepare for buyer showings!
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR BUYER SHOWINGS?
As soon as you are live on the MLS it’s likely the phone will start ringing to arrange for showings. So you need to be prepared. Proper preparation begins well before the first showing, however.
First, you must have an agreement with your listing agent about showing instructions to ensure maximum access. Your house may look great but if you make it hard to see because of limited showing times or other restrictions you likely will miss out on showing opportunities.
Showing instructions should be reasonable and be clearly spelled out in the MLS so agents know what to do.
Second, the home must look its best when a showing is to occur (and NOT like the house above). Since you hopefully had your home looking pristine when the listing photos were taken this should not be a problem.
Keeping a home show ready can be a real challenge, especially with a busy life, kids and/or pets. During the first 2 – 3 weeks you will likely have the most showings and you want to maximize those opportunities. Keeping ahead of scattered toys, dirty dishes, laundry and pet hair will make life easier, and you should be able to accommodate showings without a great deal of notice. If you need a day to clean up there’s a problem.
I share a checklist with seller clients that’s designed to give them tips for getting the home ready for a showing quickly. Here are a few of those suggestions:
Let in the light – open blinds, shutters, drapes
Turn on lights
Close those toilet seats
Make the beds
Pick up clothes and toys
Wash dirty dishes or put in the dishwasher
Make sure appliances are off – who wants to listen to the dishwasher?
Got a dog? Pick up dog droppings in yard
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 all documents that contain personal identity and account information (e.g., leases, bank account statements, credit card accounts).
Want to know more? Check out Home Selling Tips and Advice to view my YouTube Channel playlist of short videos on how to sell your home, then give me a call (760-840-1360) to find out what your house is worth in today’s market. We’ll also discuss marketing, and I’ll answer any questions you have.
If you are interested in other topics or have particular questions about selling your home, please let me know and I’ll be sure to add them to my video series. Better yet, just give me a call (760-840-1360) so we can talk about your specific situation.
If you are relocating after you sell, Relocation Tips and Advice and my Relocation blog will be a big help.
And check out How to Buy a Home for great video tips on buying your new home.
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