What do I need to do to prepare for my open house or showing?

Want to impress the house hunters that are looking at your home?

Want to make them walk away and never forget what they saw when they entered your home?

It's true that buyers are looking at everything that is out there in your price range, and they will compare EVERY detail. They want the most they can get that fits into their budget (that is human instinct).

So appeal to all their senses. Sight, smell, feel, hear and even taste. It's a known fact in marketing that the more human senses that are involved, the more emotions are heightened. It's also a known fact that emotions (not people) buy homes. People need to get emotionally attached to a home in order to be motivated to buy it.

So here are some tips to get those emotions flowing:

• Nice but subtle smelling candles or plug-ins around the house will make the home smell good.

• Keep it clean - (immaculate!!) baseboards, floors, walls, ceilings, everything! NOTHING should appear dirty, dingy or appear used in any way.

• Have all the lights on (3 per room is recommended, or as many as possible)

• The garage and/or outdoor shed will need to be open and available to be seen, and heated if possible in the winter or cooled in the summer.

• The house should be at a perfect comfortable temperature as well~ warm and cozy in the winter, cool and refreshing in the summer. (Cold houses in the winter make a buyer yearn to get back in their warmer car.)

• Have full color fliers available to take when they leave. This helps buyers remember the house and as many details as possible should be shared on the fliers.

• Put away any and all valuables (especially jewelry!).

• Put a frozen apple pie in the oven or fresh bake some cookies just before your guests arrive... the home baked scent makes your house much more homey, and then don't do as many candles. (you can leave some fresh baked goodies out when your lookers come through, it helps fight off those pangs of hunger that hit after hours of house hunting, and invites the buyers to stay longer to appreciate your home).

• If it's possible (and safe) to light the fireplace it also adds to the homeyness, but only if it's a cold day.

• Have the closets/cabinets as lightly loaded as possible... offers a feeling of plenty of storage space.

• Re-paint, repair, clean out, re-finish, replace.... anything and everything that you have put off. Anything that the buyers can see in dis-repair makes them wonder what else is neglected that they can't see.

• Get rid of any and all clutter, organize and clean up everything! If there is one time to be organized in your life, this is the time!

• A light delicate station on the radio or sound system which accompanies house hunters through the house also is inviting and relaxing. If using more then one radio, make sure they are on the same station.

• Try, although it is always hard, to pretend you are the buyer. Use a critical eye when you walk through your house and fix or update anything that would make you not want to buy your house. It is hard to be THAT honest about your own home! But if you can't be, eventually a buyer or agent will tell you about it, and then maybe you'll realize what you need to do. This however, will cost you a lot of time and money!

Remember you have one chance, and only one chance to impress each buyer, make that showing count! Good luck with your home sale, and if you need an honest, no obligation opinion, don't hesitate to call me.