Ready to put your home on the market?
Let’s face it: open houses are a real pain, whether you believe in them or not. Most real estate agents maintain that they are absolutely essential if you want to make the best possible impression on prospective buyers. At their worst, open houses are opportunities for thieves to take advantage of distracted homeowners. At their best, they are a showcase for the best features of your home, allowing prospective buyers to envision your living space as theirs if you have staged your home correctly. There are many ways to approach it, but there are certain “must-do’s” which most homeowners observe. Ready to dig in? Use the following guidance to make your home shine.
Curb appeal
Making a great first impression on buyers with curb appeal is perhaps the one hard-and-fast rule when it comes to staging a home. You always want passersby to slow down or stop and take pictures because they have seen something they really like. It might be the way you have painted your shutters, or it could be your brand-new front door. The more you can do to impress with the appearance of your home’s exterior and the quality of your landscaping, the greater the chance you will find someone willing to meet your asking price.
Pristine and clean
There is no substitute for a pristinely clean home. Buyers will be put off by clutter, hair buildup in the corners or on furniture, and a home that smells of cigarette smoke. Always go through your house room by room and assess whether you have done a good job of cleaning and creating the impression of space and flow-through. Ask a neighbor or friend to walk through and see if there are unpleasant odors that need to be addressed before your open house. If you’re having trouble getting rid of bad smells, try spraying a mixture of vinegar and water throughout the house or laying out bowls of vinegar or coffee beans, which can absorb bad odors.
Conceal your pets
Owning a dog or cat can negatively affect your ability to sell your home, no matter how well you stage it. Even buyers who have pets of their own will be reluctant to consider a property that may have been damaged by years of pet ownership. Dog and cat urine is a common problem among homeowners, even if there are no evident signs of it. People who know what it is like to have a pet will assume that furniture, carpeting, and baseboards will have sustained damage after years of wear and tear. Board your pet or ask a friend or family member to watch him while you are holding an open house to head off any misgivings that a potential buyer may express.
There are drawbacks to holding an open house, but the fact remains that staging your home properly can help you sell your house sooner.
When you’re ready to put your home on the market, connect with a dedicated REALTOR® at Come on Home Colorado LLC! Call us today at 720-468-7238 to get started.
Photo via Pixabay
Blog post contributed by Ms. Hazel Bridges. Ms. Bridges is the creator of Aging Wellness, a website that aims to provide health and wellness resources for aging seniors. She’s a breast cancer survivor. She challenges herself to live life to the fullest and inspire others to do so as well.