Tips on Showing Your Home

When preparing your home to show to prospective buyers, you want it to look its best. Start by straightening up your home. Put newspapers in the garage, clean off the tables and reduce your personal collections. While you may enjoy collecting an item, too much of it can overwhelm a space. A few personal items will make a space feel warm, but not cluttered.

Second, confine your pets. If you can remove your pet from the home, this is ideal. But if that’s not possible, place them in a crate in a room that is not essential to the tour. If they like the new home in Tampa enough to come back, remove the animal the second time so they can have the full showing.

Keep the lights on and window blinds open. Natural light can brighten up a space. Don’t leave the lights to the Realtors; they do not know where all the switches are. If you leave them on, no one will have to search to find them. It’s also important to leave the air conditioning or heat on, depending on the time of year, at a comfortable level. You don’t want your guests to think there may be a problem with the cooling unit.

Make sure your home is available for showings, preferably when you’re not there. Buyers can feel uncomfortable looking at a home if they think someone is watching their every move. A Realtor is experienced in sales, and can best answer questions effectively for you.

Make sure all dishes, shoes, clothing, and towels have been picked up. You want your home to look its absolute best. It doesn’t have to look impeccable, but you want it to look clean and uncluttered. Last minute details such as washing or waxing the floor, vacuuming, or removing grease and grime can enhance your home’s appeal. It seems silly to some but making sure the showers are free from soap scum and the furniture has been dusted, shows a prospective buyer you’ve taken care of this home. No one wants to buy a home that has been neglected. Take a few extra minutes and make sure buyers can see the beauty your home has to offer.