It’s official, the sign has been placed at the end of your driveway and your home is for sale. What can you expect during this next phase of the selling process? If you read our article from last month, we discussed how it is important at this point that your home be staged, and thoroughly or professionally cleaned, so it is ready for showings. The staging process would have included depersonalizing your home (removing family photos, etc.), as well as organizing small spaces. When potential buyers come through your home, they will be looking in closets and cupboards and pantries. It is important that these spaces be clean and organized to help ensure the appearance of sufficient space for storage. Overfull and disorganized closets may give the impression that there is not enough storage space within the home. It is also important to ensure that any small issues, such as a leaking tap, or stained ceiling tile, be fixed before showings begin.
What can you expect when a showing is requested for your home? Most showings will be booked a day in advance; however, some buyers may request a showing on shorter notice. As the seller, you can also request a time for showings, if certain times just aren’t possible for your schedule. Showing requests will be within increments of an hour. This does not necessarily mean the potential buyer will arrive at the beginning of the hour. They could very well arrive within the last five minutes of their requested hour.
First impressions are the most important part of showing your home. This includes curb appeal! Make sure the lawn is raked and mowed, trees and shrubs are pruned; as well, be sure to give the backyard a thorough cleaning. Now that the snow has melted, evidence of your dog needs to be cleaned up! You can also place a new welcome mat or a fresh flower pot at the front door. Once inside, be sure that the buyer is welcomed by inviting, natural smells such as fresh baked cookies or boiled cinnamon. Avoid the use of air fresheners. This can give the impression that you are trying to mask odour, and there are also allergies to consider. Before leaving your home, open all the curtains and turn on all the lights. A dark home can be a turn off to potential buyers, and having lights on allows them to easily maneuver throughout the home, without having to fumble to find light switches. Lastly, as you are going out the door be sure that the house temperature is enjoyable, all toilet seats and lids are down, and all animal beds or litterboxes, as well as your pets, are removed. You may also want to consider keeping your pets with family members.
Selling your home can be a stressful process, but it doesn’t have to be if you are prepared and maintain good communication with your Realtor. If you are considering selling, give us a call! We would love to sit down with you and help make this process as stress free as possible.