Your house should always be available for show, although it might occasionally be inconvenient for you. Let your listing agent place a lock box in a very convenient place to make it easy for other agents to show your home to home buyers. Otherwise, agents have to schedule appointments, which is an inconvenience. Most will simply skip your home to show the house of someone else who is more cooperative. Most agents will call and give you at least a number of hours notice before showing your property. If you refuse to let them show it at that point, they will simply skip your house. Even if they come back another time, it will most likely be with different buyers and you may have simply lost a chance to sell your home.
Try Not to be Home
Home buyers will feel like intruders if you are home once they visit, and they may not be as receptive toward viewing your home. Visit the local coffee house, yogurt shop, or take the children to the local park. If you absolutely cannot leave, try to stay in an out of the way area of the house and do not move from room to room. Do not volunteer any information, but answer any queries the agent may ask.
Lighting
When you know someone is coming by to tour your home, turn on all the indoor and outdoor lights – even during the day. At night, a lit house provides a “homey” impression when viewed from the street. During daytime, turning on the lights prevents harsh shadows from daylight and it brightens up any dim areas. Your house looks more homey and cheerful with the lights on.
Pet Control
If you own pets, make sure your listing agent puts a notice together with your listing in the multiple listing service. The last thing you would like is to have your pet running out the front door and getting lost. If you know somebody is coming, it might be best to take the pets with you while the home buyers tour your home. If you cannot do that, it is best to keep dogs in a penned area in the back yard. Try to keep indoor cats in a specific room when you expect visitors, and place a sign on the door. Most of the time, an indoor cat will hide when buyers come to view your property, but they may panic and try to escape.
The Kitchen Trash
Particularly if your kitchen trash can does not have a lid, make sure you empty it every time someone comes to look at your home – whether or not your trash can is kept under the kitchen sink. Bear in mind that you wish to send a positive image about every aspect of your home. Kitchen trash will not send a positive message. You will consume more plastic bags than usual, but it will be worth it.
Keep the House Tidy
Not everyone makes his or her bed every day, however when selling a home it’s suggested that you just develop the habit. Pick up papers, don’t leave empty glasses in the family room, keep everything freshly dusted and vacuumed. Try your best to have it look like a model home – a home with furniture but no one really lives there.
Another great article by Palliser Calgary Homes This article, Make Your House More Appealing To Home Buyers is released under a creative commons attribution licence.
