How Do I Prepare My Home for Showings?

Learn how to prepare your home for buyers and the open market. 

Are you looking to sell your home this summer? While we’re still in a strong seller’s market, there is a widening gap between homes that are ready for the market and those that aren’t. If you want your home to be a winner on the open market, you probably need to make your home as ready and attractive to buyers as possible. It’s proven that the more showings you have, the more likely you are to have a faster sale and net a higher price. That’s why today, I’m sharing three ways you can get your house ready for showings this summer: 1. Take care of minor repairs upfront. Right now, buyers’ number concern is higher interest rates and affordability. As a result, they want to put as much money down as they can to lower their monthly payments. This means that if you take care of repairs upfront, buyers will be more interested in your house and might even be willing to pay a premium. Taking care of cosmetic repairs upfront is a good idea even in a normal market, but higher interest rates mean this step is more important than ever. 

"Buyers will pay a premium for homes in good condition."

2. Do some staging. Think about a model home: It’s clean, impersonal and neutral colors. Your goal should be to get as close to that image as possible. Your home likely has a lot of personalized touches, like sports memorabilia , family photos, or maybe even a fun colored wall. I recommend trying to depersonalize your home as much as possible so prospective buyers can picture themselves living in your property. Plus, by packing everything away, you’ll make moving easier once you sell your house. 3. Have a plan for children and pets. When preparing your home for showings, it's essential to have a strategy for managing your children and pets. To ensure a positive impression, work on removing pets and any pet-related items from sight. Even if there are no odors, the mere presence of pet items can lead buyers to imagine pet smells. Coordinate with your agent to establish a showing schedule with designated time blocks when your home is buyer-ready. It's advisable to kennel your dogs during these short showing periods. Although it may require some extra effort, keeping your house in pristine condition is crucial when potential buyers are viewing it. If you want a detailed showing plan or list of repairs to make before you list your home, please call or email us. We would love to help you navigate this housing market!