CONVENIENCE AND AVAILABILITY
WHY YOU SHOULD NOT BE HOME
LIGHTING, FRAGRANCES, PET CONTROL ETC.
KEEPING THE HOUSE PICKED UP

Convenience and Availability

Some times showings can be inconvenient, but you should make your house easily available for show. Your listing agent will put a lock box in a convenient place, this makes it easy for other agents to show your home. Most agents will call and give you some notice before showing your property. It is important to make it easily accessible to the time frame they are requesting. If you decline to let them show it at that time, they may skip your house and you may have just lost a chance to sell your home.

Why You Should Not Be Home

Home buyers are typically not comfortable looking through your home if you are there, they feel like they are intruding, and this can be a real distraction when viewing your home. It is best to take a quick trip to the store or a nearby park, but if you absolutely cannot leave, stay in an area that is out of the way of the buyers and don't try to talk to them. Feel free to answer questions if they have any but don't voluntarily give information.

Lighting, Fragrances, Pet Control Etc.

Lighting
Lights give a "homey" feel so when you have showings, turn on all the indoor and outdoor lights – even during the day. At night, a lit house looks great from the street and during the day, the lights prevents harsh shadows from sunlight and it brightens up any areas that tend to be dark. A house feels more like a home with the lights on.

Fragrances
It's not a good idea to use scented sprays to prepare for visitors. It gives the impression you are trying to mask other smells and many people are sensitive to fragrances. Try having something natural out like potpourri or scented oil in a warmer. Another tip is to turn on a stove burner for a moment and put a drop of vanilla extract on it, will make it smell like you have been cooking.

Pet Control
If you have pet your agent will put a notice with the showing service to let them know where the pet will be confined to during their visit. You don't want your pet roaming the home during showings, many agents will not enter a home with loose pets, even if it is the mildest dog or cat on the planet. Sometimes the pets can get out during a showing and get lost. Be sure to have a plan in place where and how you will confine your pets during showings.

The Kitchen Trash
Trash can leave odors that you may not be aware of as a seller, try to make it a habit to empty it every time someone comes to look at your home, even if it's kept under the kitchen sink. You may go through more trash bags than usual, but it will be worth it.

Keeping the House Picked Up

You may not be used to making your bed every day, not everyone does, but when selling a home it is recommended that you make it a habit. Pick up papers and dishes from each room, try to keep everything freshly dusted and vacuumed. The goal, make it look like a home with furniture but like nobody really lives there.

HAVE QUESTIONS? PLEASE ASK!