Preparing Your Property for Showings [back]

Preparing your property for showings is another vital step to selling as a FSBO. Most of us don't keep our homes in the condition necessary to attract a buyer. How your property "shows" to a prospective buyer will have an immense impact on how quickly it sells and whether or not you get full market value for it.

First impressions are very important and you only get to make one. So, exactly what needs to be changed to make a good first impression? This may mean that all you do is prune the trees and shrubs. On the other hand, it may mean that you completely repaint the house, inside and out. Run a "curb to door" check. Give potential buyers a clear path to enter the home. The fewer obstacles between the buyer and the true appeal of your property, the better. Keep in mind that over time we become accustomed to our surroundings. What's normal for you may be detrimental to the buyer.

Make your home look as spacious as possible. Organize your closets and kitchen cabinets, and if you have things stored in the attic or basement, make sure they are presentable. If you are showing during the day, pull back your curtains and drapes to show how bright and cheery your home is. If you are showing at night, turn on all of the lights to create a warm and welcoming environment for the prospective buyers. A property that is marked with your personality and style may be harder to sell. You might even consider such things as removing obvious clues to your political affiliation and tucking away any biased literature that may be visible. This will reduce distractions and help the buyers to visualize the home as their own.

Below is a list of twenty very important questions to ask yourself prior to showing a property:

Have I set the asking price comparable to similar homes in my area which have sold recently?
Have I secured all necessary legal documents to protect myself from fraud?
Have I obtained satisfactory proof that I have a good title to the property?
Have I obtained a survey including all easements, rights of way and encroachments?
Do I have current tax information available for a prospective buyer?
Do I have all utility bills available for viewing?
Do I have information about the type of insulation and thickness available?
Have I checked the property with a critical eye? Buyers will look for faults which could cost them money to remedy.
Have I cleaned up, fixed up and painted? Make a great first impression, focus energy on curb appeal.
Have I rearranged the furniture to create open space? If you have "too much" furniture, remove some and store it.
Am I keeping the house immaculate at all times, since showings are not scheduled events?
Have I turned off the television?
Have I turned on the soft music?
Have I built a fire in the fireplace?
Have I opened the shades and turn on the lights?
Have I checked the thermostat to make sure that the house is at a comfortable temperature?
Have I made arrangements to keep children and pets out of the way during showings?
Do I have a guest register prepared to obtain every buyer's name and phone number for follow up?
Have I given all family members assigned jobs that will be set into action when a short-notice showing is scheduled?
Does everyone in the household know their duties for when a showing is underway?
Have I opened all drapes, curtains and blinds? They should be positioned to let in the maximum amount of light.
Have I made sure the house smells good? Baking cookies may be overdoing it, but pet odors will not work!
Have I aired-out the house just before the scheduled showing?
Have I thoroughly rechecked all of the above such that "no stone is unturned"?

Spend time making sure all is in place, you'll only get one chance to get it right!

Brian Serpone can be reached in the Harwich office of Today Real Estate at 508-568-8104.