Preparing your Home for a Showing/Open House

Your home is listed and now it’s time for realtors and potential buyers to view your
home.First impressions are everything when selling your home. You want to create a
“buyer friendly” atmosphere where people can visualize themselves living in your house.

 

Below is a handy checklist for you and your family to use to make it easy to get your home “show ready”.

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Overall:

• Vacuum, sweep, dust, and tidy each of the rooms.

• Do a sniff test and take care of any odours. e.g. avoid meals the night before that have strong odours. - open windows, if possible, to let the fresh air in.

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Secure valuables and medication: Unfortunately, open houses are a target for thieves.

• Remove/hide valuables like jewelry, prescription medication, and personal items.

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Remove all signs of your pet:

• Not everyone is a pet person so tuck away your pets' toys, bowl, and bed.

• Take your pet with you when your house is being shown.

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Let the light In: Light brightens up your space and it also makes rooms look
and feel larger.

• Open all curtains and blinds to let the natural light in.

• Turn on all the lights.

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Adjust the temperature:

• Keep your home temperature comfortable - not too cold or too hot

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Exterior: The buyers first impression begins when the buyer drives up to your home,
so we want your exterior to look welcoming and well taken care of.

• Pull cars out of the garage and driveway. This will highlight the storage inside the garage and give buyers an unobstructed view of your home from the curb.

• Clear ice, snow, personal items from your driveway, sidewalk, front entrance/porch, and backyard area.

• For nighttime showings, keep your exterior well lit.

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Front Entrance & Stairs: When the buyer steps into your home they will decide how interested they are in your home within seconds.

• Stow away all items on tables, the floor and on the stairs.

• Keep your closets tidy.

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Living Areas:

• Stow away items such as toys, papers, magazines, mail, and food.

• Clear the floor for maximum flow.

• Straighten your pillows, throws, coffee and end tables.

 

Kitchen:

• Buyers love to have plenty of counter-space so stow away items that are on your countertop (e.g. toaster, butcher block, etc.).

• Clean countertops.

• Remove dishes and dishcloths from your sink.

• Polish your sink, faucet, and appliances.

• Stow away anything on your appliances.

• Empty garbage and recycle bins.

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Dining/Eat-In Area:

• Clear your table.

• Straighten chairs.

• Stow away booster seats and high-chairs.

• Wipe table and chairs.

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Bathroom:

• Stow away all personal items on the countertops, floors, and in the bath/shower – tuck away neatly under your sink.

• Flush all toilets and put down the toilet seat.

• Polish the sink, faucets, and mirrors.

• Set out the “nice” towels.

• Clean all items off the floor e.g. garbage containers, toilet brush holder.

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Bedrooms:

• Make all your beds – tuck in sheets and fluff pillows.

• Stow away items from your nightstands, dressers, and on the floor.

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Now, let's get your house sold!!