You’re ready to sell. You’ve de-cluttered, de-personalized, and made all the necessary repairs to your home. You’ve repainted and staged each room to appeal to potential buyers. But what do you do in the moments before a buyer is scheduled to show up? Here’s the rundown of all those little home-staging tasks you should address at the last minute.
Make your bed
No buyer wants to see an unmade bed. Before showing the house, make your bed. Better yet, make the bed first thing in the morning when you get up. Then you won’t have to worry about it later in the day.
Open the curtains
You want your home to have as much natural light as possible during the showing. Take a quick run through the house and make sure all the curtains, blinds, and shades are open.
Turn on all the lights
In addition to opening all the curtains, make sure the lights are on in every room. This includes overhead lights as well as table and floor lamps.
Wipe down counters
Your kitchen counters and sink should be sparkling clean when buyers arrive. Take a moment to wipe down all these surfaces. Get in the habit of doing dishes the night before so you don’t have to worry about it in the morning.
Take out the garbage
Bad odors make bad first impressions. Make it a practice to take out your garbage every day when your home is on the market. And don’t smoke inside!
Check the bathrooms
Make sure all the bathrooms are tidy and the sinks and counters are wiped down. Close toilet seat lids. One way to make sure the bathrooms are always ready is to shower at night.
Check the pet areas
Pet odors can derail your home showing. Check your pet areas regularly to make sure they are clean and odor-free. Empty the kitty litter at least once a day and vacuum or sweep up pet hair. Keep disinfecting wipes handy to knock out pet odors.
Close closet doors
Yes, buyers will want to look inside your closets. But you should keep all closet doors closed. Even if your closet is clean and organized, it still creates visual clutter. Keeping the doors closed will help to ensure that the buyer has a positive first impression of the room.
Clean up toys
If you have children, then you’re going to need a system for dealing with their toys and games when you’re selling. I recommend providing a basket or bin for each child. Let them know in advance that each time a showing is scheduled, they’ll be responsible for picking up their own toys and putting them in their special container. Kids really enjoy being a part of the process!
Tidy up outside
Check to make sure your porch or patio is neat and that the walkway is clear. Make sure coats and shoes are tidy next to the front and back doors.
Adjust the temperature
Check the thermostat and set to an optimal temperature – nothing too hot or too cold. You don’t want buyers rushing through your house because they are uncomfortable.
Stay prepared
When your home is on the market, you should start every day knowing that you could get a last-minute showing. Stay ahead of the game by being prepared. By keeping on top of the small tasks outlined above, you can save precious minutes when a buyer is on their way over. It’s also a great way to be less stressed during an already stressful process.
