When selling your home, it’s important to shift your thinking. It’s no longer your home, it someone else’s home to be. When getting ready to do showcase your soon to be former house, here are some helpful hints to make it easier for someone to visualize themselves in their new abode.
Declutter
Obviously, get rid of any items around the house you don’t need. Spend a few months or weeks before you start showing, getting rid of anything you no longer want to keep. Go through every room with a scrutinous eye. If it’s junk, or can be a donation, get rid of it. If it’s something you love, but it’s something you can live without for a while, pack it up into storage and get it out of the way. Open, decluttered spaces are much more inviting and are an instant invitation to a prospective buyer. And remember, buyers are going to be looking EVERYWHERE. Hiding laundry in the closet, will be found.
Neutralize
Do you have a love affair with color? Are you a fan of chartreuse bathrooms with burgundy halls? Though you probably don’t have anything quite that extreme, do take a look around and see if you have any strong color palettes that could be made more neutral. (Think tan, gray, off white, etc.) It’s easier for buyers to imagine putting their own spin on a neutral color, versus battling a home done in shades of purple.
Lighting
The subconscious mind picks up on dark spaces in unfamiliar areas as uncomfortable. Take a walk through your home and look for any areas that seem dark, adjust with a table lamp if necessary. Draw open the curtains. Turn on the lights. Make sure the bulbs have all been replaced if they are burned out. A well lit home feels inviting.
Curb Appeal
You don’t have to hire a landscape team to totally redo your yard. However, a little attention to detail goes a long way. Check around the front of your home. Place some fresh potted flowers if the season allows, remove cobwebs, and sweep the walkway.
Senses
The goal in showing your home, is to have the visitors feel at home. If it’s chilly outside, warm the house a bit. If it’s sweltering, have the ac on. And, one of the simplest ways to a person’s heart, is through their nose. Stay away from strongly synthetic air fresheners. However, a batch of baked cookies, or a pot of brewed coffee are scents that invoke homey feelings.
Remove Pets
If you have pets, do what you can to take them off premises. The last thing you want is Fido jumping all over a potential buyer. Not only are there safety concerns, but there could also be allergies or barking. If you have a small pet like a lizard or snake, have it covered if it cannot be removed from the premises.
Go Away
Don’t linger during a showing if at all possible. You want your potential buyers to feel completely comfortable to peek in closets and ask questions. They will be most comfortable if you are gone.
With these few simple tips, your house will be somebody else’s house in no time at all!