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How to Keep Your House Ready to Show!

By
Home Stager

 

How To Keep Your House Ready to Show!

 

One of the last questions my sellers will ask me after a Home Staging showing your houseConsultation is…

 

How am I supposed to

keep it this way

while we’re living in it?

 

Having had my own house on the market many times, I can tell you that it can be done! You just need a good checklist and some organization.

 

And, enlist all family members to help you keep your house is show-ready condition.



Make cleaning and picking up a daily habit

-Vacuum or sweep daily

-At the end of every day, make sure that all countertops are wiped down. Put away items you’ve used during the day and meal preparation.

clean your countertops-Go through each room and pick up papers, trash,clothing, glasses etc.

-Empty all trash cans

-Run your garbage disposal and put ice cubes, baking powder and vinegar down it.

-Check your laundry room and fold or hang items you have there.

-Check your office for financial papers and bills left lying around.

 

 

 

 

Purchase easy to use boxes or bins for storing everyday items.

-Purchase a small plastic carrier for every person in your home to keep in their bathroom. This makes it easy for them to access their personal items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, cleansers, etc without having them sitting on the counter.

-When your house is on the market, you’ll want to make sure that your personal and financial files are locked away. However for items you’ll need daily, purchase covered file boxes for storage.

 

Pay attention to your exterior daily

-Make sure that spider webs and bugs are removed from your entry.

-Make sure that plants are watered daily if they need it.

-Make sure you pool is clean, especially if it is during our hot muggy summer months. Or, if in the fall, clear of leaves.

 

A house that is priced correctly and shows its value stands a better chance of being at the top of the Buyer’s list.

 

And when that buyer comes to the door, make sure you’ve made sure that you house is ready for them!




 

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

In Person Consultations in Texas
for Houston & Harris Counties
and
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for all states


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Comments (64)

Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Debe Maxwell, CRS Thank you. Getting the kids involved can really make it easier for the parents. Bribery is always good! LOL

Hi Joan Whitebook Thank you and have a great holiday.

Mega Team Real Estate hope you find it helpful.

 

Jul 02, 2017 05:53 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Theo Shaw it's hard to convince sellers that buyers are still strangers in your home.

Sally K. & David L. Hanson the more helpful information we can provide sellers, the easier it makes your job down the line.

Jul 02, 2017 05:58 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Dorie Dillard  You have wise sellers!!! (probably because they listened to you!)

Exactly Richie Alan Naggar It doesn't have to be hard if you're organized.

Sheila Anderson it really does become a habit and one that's easy to keep.

hi Jeff Dowler the key is to get everything in it's place, have a plan and get little baskets for everyone! LOL

Jul 02, 2017 06:03 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hella Mitschke Rothwell That's a really good one to add to the list.

Hi Sharon Tara and thank you!!

I love the ones at SteinMart! Francine Viola 

Thank you John Pusa 

Jul 02, 2017 06:06 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Sham Reddy Thank you!

LOL Mark Loewenberg now that's funny!

Praful Thakkar The best thing a seller can do is make sure that everything is picked up at the end of the day.

Jul 02, 2017 06:09 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Linda D. Pufford Thank you very much!

Kat Palmiotti I tell my clients that if they follow all of this and listen to their agent, it could very possibly cut their time on the market.

Hi Abby Stiller you are very welcome.

Jul 02, 2017 06:12 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Hannah Williams and many thanks!

Marie Haydock you know it can be very overwhelming but if you make a plan, it's a lot easier.

Jul 02, 2017 06:16 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Kathy

Your insight on how to keep your house ready to show . . . . and sell is right on the money.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Jul 02, 2017 07:15 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Kathy

Congratulations on being awarded a gold star for an informative post.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludiwg

Jul 02, 2017 07:17 PM
Roshan Quigley
Weichert Realtors - Manalapan/Marlboro, NJ - Manalapan, NJ

Great tips Kathy, thank you for posting.

Jul 03, 2017 05:19 PM
Janelle Ancillotti
Seneca Home Staging - Syracuse, NY
HSR Certified Home Stager, Syracuse, NY

Hi Kathy. These are super tips that EVERYONE should be doing EVERY DAY, not just when the house is for sale, if you want to keep your home looking its best. Why just make your home look nice for buyers? I like to have it looking nice for myself! Plus, I never hesitate to invite people over whether its for a big party or a small spur-of-the-moment get-together.

Jul 04, 2017 05:24 AM
Stavrula "Sam" Crafa, RNC,GRI, CDPE, PSA
Future Home Realty - Seminole, FL
Providing the integrity and service you deserve.

Great tips and I agree with Janelle Ancillotti . If you get into the habit of doing it every day, them it won't be as time consuming as one might think. Train the rest of the family to do it also. 

Jul 04, 2017 09:07 AM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

Once the house is decluttered, fix-its are done and it's show ready--it's much easier to keep it that way.  Usually just 15-30minutes to get it picked up and ready to show!

Jul 04, 2017 09:25 AM
Bruce Kunz
C21 Solid Gold Realty, Brick, NJ, 732-920-2100 - Howell, NJ
REALTOR®, Brick & Howell NJ Homes for Sale

Great advice, Kathy Streib and it certainly isn't hard to keep up with when done consistently.

As I was reading through, I was thinking what Janelle Ancillotti commented earlier: Why not do it for yourself, too!

Thanks for sharing!
Bruce 

Jul 04, 2017 09:45 AM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Kathy,

The personal carriers should be on sale soon, when kids go back to college. Good idea! For personal papers, I tell people to put them away & keep them packed up. Not many people start digging in boxes with their agent right there.

Jul 04, 2017 01:32 PM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

This is a great post to share with clients as they struggle to be showtime ready consistently

Jul 05, 2017 03:42 AM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

Keeping a house "show ready" can be a daunting proposition. Your list is a great way to manage it.

The secret is to have a plan and keep to the plan and preparation all day long.

Putting off to the last minute can be a struggle.

Thanks

Jul 05, 2017 05:58 AM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

I think you nailed it here with one word - daily.  It is manageable if it is applied daily!

Jul 05, 2017 09:04 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Having a "checklist/to do list" sure helps with the details of keeping things "show ready."

Jul 12, 2017 12:32 AM
Gloria Todor
Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Springfield, PA
& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

Thank you Kathy for this checklist for sellers!  It is so important for sellers to stay on top of things that happen daily in their lives.

All the best.

Jul 19, 2017 11:13 AM