Getting Ready for a Showing? 7 Tips to Prepare Your Home

So, your home is on the market and tomorrow you'll be showing to buyers. Hopefully you've performed a good deep cleaning in the recent past, and your home is still looking pretty good. Now all you need to do is clean up some of the day to day clutter and the superficial dirt that can build up on household surfaces. These quick, easy steps will help you prepare your home for a showing in the next 24 hours.

Do A Quick Cleaning

Most buyers won't inspect every surface or dark corner of your house, so this superficial cleaning doesn't need to be perfect. Just getting rid of the most obvious signs of dirt should be good enough.

• Wipe down sinks and shower with a wipe or a wet rag.
• Clean the inside and back of the toilet.
• Sweep under the dining room table, in the kitchen, around the shoes by the entrance to your home and in any other high-traffic areas.
• Straighten (or hide!) the shoes by the door.
• Put dirty clothes in the hamper.
• Neatly fold clothes in the laundry room.
• Clean the mirrors in the bathroom and the glass on the patio doors.
• Wipe down the counters and the dining room table.
• Have children clean up their bedrooms.
• Remove extra papers and clutter from your desk.

These quick and easy cleaning tasks can help make your home look clean to strangers and people who are unfamiliar with your house. As you straighten and clean, address any other hot-spots for dirt in your home. You know where the dirtiest places are in your house, so address all these areas as you go.

Get Rid Of Clutter

Clutter like opened bills, advertisements and old newspapers can build up even in a short period of time. Take the time to put the clutter where it belongs. If there's too much to deal with in these last few hours before your showing, throw it in a box and put it somewhere inconspicuous, like the garage or storage shed.

Change All the Burned Out Light Bulbs

Burned out light bulbs can be a disadvantage during home showings. A well-lit room can seem bigger and more spacious. Replacing light bulbs makes it easier to keep your home well lit.

Move the Pet Accessories (and Pets!) To A Less Noticeable Spot

Your pet may be an important part of your family, but pets can be a distraction to home buyers. Make arrangements to have your pet stay a friend during the home showing. Then, remove or hide pet accessories like food dishes, leashes and pet toys. This makes it possible for home buyers to concentrate on their most favorite aspects of your home, without worrying about your animal friend.

On a related note, you may have pet hair on your couch, in your carpeting and on the other upholstery in your home. Some Windermere home buyers may be affected by allergies, so vacuum thoroughly before every showing.

Freshen the Air

Every home has its own smell. Some smells are good, others can be distracting or unpleasant. Freshening the air before buyers come can help keep the focus on your home and it's beautiful features.

• Open windows and doors
• Empty all trash bins
• Refresh any potpourri
• Burn some candles
• Run fans

If you have pets, deodorizing your home is a good idea. in your pet's favorite spots, sprinkle the carpeting and upholstery with a deodorizer (or baking soda), then leave it there overnight. Vacuum these areas the following morning.

Put Toys Out of Sight

Toys tend to crowd together and make rooms feel less spacious. Putting toys out of sight can create a greater sense of space in your home. Hopefully you have bins where your kid's toys can be put away, but if you don't, be sure to pick all the toys up off the floor. Put toys in the closet or under the bed, if need be.

Set Out Flowers

As a finishing touch, set out fresh flowers on the dining room table or in the bathroom. When selecting flowers for your home, unscented flowers or flowers that have low scent are best, because they'll have the least impact on home buyers with allergies.

Talk to Your Real Estate Professional

A good real estate professional will have good ideas about how to clean and de-clutter your house in the days before your home showing. To find out more, talk to your real estate professional today.