Get prepared for your open house with these six important tips.
Before you host an open house, you need to check some items off the to-do list. Some may seem trivial, but all of them are important in making a great first impression on potential buyers. Your Markham home should be clean, inviting and have that all-important wow factor that buyers are seeking.
Clean
While this tip may be completely obvious, we aren’t just talking about your regular weekly cleaning routine. Houses listed for sale should be Martha Stewart clean, with all the little touches taken care of like dusting of windowsills, baseboards scrubbed and no garbage should be in site. Add items to your cleaning list that wouldn’t normally be put on it, even during spring cleaning sessions.
De-clutter
Getting rid of stuff is so important once your house is listed for sale. Not just for ease of moving, but so your home looks spacious and clean. You don’t have to get rid of everything, but put it away or get a storage locker to store it so it is out of the house. All of your spaces should look free-flowing so a potential buyer can picture living there and having their stuff all fit.
De-personalize
Buyers want to imagine their future in your home, not see your past. In order to achieve this, you need to remove personal items like family photographs and mementos that don’t go with the general design of the home. Before an open house, homes should look like show or model homes and be de-personalized.
Add little touches
Make your home as welcoming as you would your best guests. Get a new welcome mat and throw out the old one. Add some floral arrangements throughout the home, especially in the kitchen and living areas. Use your best linens on the beds and get new throw pillows for couches, chairs and beds. Turn the lights on and open the blinds so your home seems bright and inviting. Keep the heat or air conditioning at a comfortable temperature.
Scent it up
While you don’t want to overpower guests to your open house with artificial fragrances and have them sneezing their way out the door, you definitely want your home to smell good. You know how everyone’s house has their own smell? Get rid of that! Baking cookies right before an open house is definitely a good way to get your kitchen smelling yummy (just don’t burn them!). Leaving them out for guests might also be nice.
Leave
Potential buyers really don’t want to see homeowners when they are looking at their house. At best it is awkward, at worst it can derail a potential sale. Take your kids and pets with you too, as when people imagine pets and kids, they could potentially imagine damage to the home.
If you need more tips on selling your home or hosting an open house, feel free to contact me at any time.
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