When you are seeking the right buyer for your house, it is essential that you keep it accessible for inspections at all times, no matter how impractical and tiresome it might be for you. Ask your listing agent for a lock box and have it fixed at a suitable place, this would encourage other agents to take potential buyers around your property. Unless you have a lock box, agents will have to schedule meetings and appointments, which is often an inconvenience. Remember, most agents will not waste time on setting up appointments with you, when they can simply choose some other house with more cooperative owners.
According to the norm, most agents inform the property owners a few hours before they intend to show their house. When an agent calls you up to notify you of his/her plan and you refuse for any reason, the agent would simply pass over your place. The next time around when you agree on a show, the agent would visit your property with a different buyer. When you refuse to show your house, you are only reducing your chances of selling your property and who knows maybe losing out on a great buyer.
Homebuyers touring your property while you are at home might feel like trespassers and just rush through the whole inspection without serious consideration. So, when you are informed of prospective buyers visiting at a certain time, try hitting the local coffee house or a park at that time. Just disappear for the duration of the inspection but incase that is impossible, try to stay out of the way and keep your movement limited to a single room. Do not take over the real estate agent’s job and start showing the buyers around the place and giving out information regarding the house. Only answer direct questions posed by the agent.
Lighting
When a potential buyer is due to arrive any minute for a tour of your property, brighten up your house by turning on all the lights, indoors and outdoors, day or night. Although it may seem absurd during the day, especially if it is bright and sunny, keep in mind that a little more light would simply reduce the stark shadows caused by the sunlight and brighten up all the shadowy areas. At night the lights inside the house would present a cheery picture to the outsiders, while inside it would make the entire house appear bright and cheerful.
Fragrances
When preparing your house for visitors, avoid using scented sprays. Not only are the sprays too obvious, but they may trigger allergic reactions, besides some buyers find them offensive. If you want to make your house smell good, try something natural or go for a potpourri pot. Another little trick is to turn on your stove burner and dribble a few drops of vanilla extract on it. Within minutes, your home will be infused with the smell of vanilla and it will seem like you have been busy in the kitchen.
Pet Control
When you have pets it is necessary that you put a notice with your listing, in the multiple listing services, through your listing agent. You wouldn’t want to lose your pet, just because the agent or the buyer left the door open and your pet took off. When you are informed about the arriving visitors, keep your pet by your side until the visitors leave. If you have a dog you might want to limit it to the backyard or any other penned area. If you own a cat, confine it to a specific room and place a sign on the door. Usually, cats tend to hide when strangers come for an inspection but it is better to be safe than sorry, the last thing you want is your cat panicking and bolting through the window.
The Kitchen Trash
Visitors coming to inspect your house? The first thing you do is rid your house of all the trash, especially the kitchen trash. Even if your trash is out of sight or kept in a bin with a lid, do not leave it lying in the house. Send out a positive image of the house and residents and you might win over a buyer. Kitchen trash will simply affect the buyer negatively if discovered. It might be a little extra work but if you impress your buyer, it will be more than worth it.
Clean out Closets and Garage
When preparing your home for sale, be sure to take the time to clear out your closets of the out of season and unused items. Removing the clutter from the closets will make them seem larger and the home more saleable. In addition to the closets, the garage needs to be organized and cleared out as much as possible so it can be used as a garage to park the number of cars it is designed to park. Having a two car garage with only room for one is a deterrent to a potential buyer. Last but not least, pick up and clean the exterior of your home including the windows, patio, pool, and front & rear yards.
Keeping the House Tidy and Neat
Not making the bed after you get up every morning is something that would have to change if you are looking to sell your house. When you are likely to have potential buyers coming over, at any given day with just a few hours notice, it is best if you acquire a few good habits, like picking up the papers after you are done reading them, cleaning up the family room, taking the empty drink glasses to the kitchen and in general keeping everything neat, clean and organized. In order to entice the buyer try to make your house look like a model home, a place offering comfort and warmth, furnished and simply waiting to be occupied.
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