Staging and Showing

Below is a general overview of some of the things I suggest:

The first impression...

People usually form their first impression of your home within 30 seconds, and that usually starts while the buyers are still outside your house. make sure that your yard and exterior are in great shape. The outside of your home can make an impression on all the prospects that step in your door. Providing a clean look can improve your chances of getting the sale:

  • Get a new doormat
  • Paint your front door (if necessary)
  • Get a new mailbox
  • Plant flowers
  • Trim the hedges
  • Sweep the walk of all debris

The foyer or entryway - if you have one, is as important as the exterior when making a first impression. This is because people linger here the longest. Make sure it is freshly painted with creamy neutral colors, and make sure the floor is immaculate. This is the place to put a small table, a vase of flowers, and a lamp. This area must be bright and inviting.

Getting Rid of Clutter...

This is arguably one of the hardest tasks you will encounter when preparing your home for showings. Your goal is to create a home that buyers can "see themselves living in". Getting rid of all of the knickknacks and miscellaneous clutter is imperative. Clutter can make the home seem smaller:

  • Empty all trash cans
  • Keep all surfaces clean and clear - Tables, counters, etc.
  • Remove area rugs
  • Remove throw blankets
  • Remove excessive throw pillows
  • Get some fresh, healthy plants in nice containers.

Get your closets in order - You should remove enough hanging clothes to ensure that none touch. Space them nicely. Take the rest and store them in a bin or one of those cool vacuum bags (which I adore).

De-Personalize

While you may feel your photos are beautiful, the showing of your home during the selling process is not the place for them. Religious displays and an abundance of personal photographs should be removed for temporary purposes. This allows potential buyers to imagine themselves in the property.

Getting it Clean...

Your home must sparkle! - To achieve this you must clean your home from top to bottom, neglecting nothing. If it is feasible, you might want to consider hiring a service to come in and get it clean. When buyers see dirt and grime, they begin to wonder if other aspects of your home's upkeep have been neglected.

Clean windows are important - Get your windows cleaned inside and out. Hiring a professional might be worth it. Since your shades and drapes should be open, clean glass is critical.

Search and destroy odors - Move the litter box outside and make sure that the carpets have all been steam-cleaned. Masking odors rarely works. Your best option is to get rid of them. Make sure the fridge is cleared of old leftovers. An old real estate trick is to buy a frozen pie or tube of cookie dough and bake them before a showing.

Showing Your Home

When I schedule a showing for your home, here are some of the things you need to do to get it ready:

Make it bright - Open all of the shades and turn on all of the lights, even during the day. The brighter and more inviting your home is the more attractive it is to buyers.

Discretion and Your Pets - If at all possible, remove all pets from view of inquiring prospects. This will help with safety. Additionally, some prospects may not be comfortable with them around them Make sure you have removed excess fur from the furniture if you have a dog or cat. These things can discourage the prospects.

Medications, Toiletries - Ensuring that it is out of sight. Safety is a big issue when it comes to medications. It is important to ensure that all medications are removed from sight. Do not display any personal toiletry items! Remove all deodorant, mouthwash, electric toothbrushes, etc. and put them in your cabinet.

Personal Security - Make sure that all bills, credit card statements and the like are safely put away. You might even want to unplug your computer. Also, make sure small valuables, such as jewelry are hidden in a secure place.

Turn off Radio and TV - when showing your home it is important to have as few distractions as possible. The TV and Radio can be a big distraction during the showing of the home. Different people have different tastes in music and TV programming chasing some prospects away.

Conversations During the Showing - It is best to leave your home before potential buyers arrive. If this is not possible, keeping in the back ground during the showing will allow the prospects to look at the house that their own pace. Following behind may cause them to feel rushed.

You will find that all the above tips can add to the success of the homes sale. Remember that you should contact me in the event of questions. Follow these tips and you can increase the chance of selling your home incredibly.

Charissa Pemper, Boston REALTOR®

Charissa Pemper
Lic. MA Real Estate Broker, REALTOR®
Charissa@HomesInBoston.com