Checklist for WOW-ing a Buyer During a Viewing

There is a reason that Showhomes are staged the way that they are. If you have gone to the effort to put your house on the market, you are going to want buyers to be WOW’d by your property. Allowing your home to be on the market for sale and shown to potential buyers is incredibly inconvenient. The better it looks, the better your chance of selling it in a shorter amount of time.

Here’s a handy checklist to follow before a showing:

• Clean every room. Make your entire house look as much like a showhome as possible. The cleaner your house is, the more likely the buyer will think that you have maintained it well over the years, even if you haven't. Trust me!

• Reduce clutter! Pack extra items into boxes and store them in the basement or garage. 3 Ornaments on your fireplace mantel is better than 12. The less clutter, the more likely the buyer can imagine their own things in your home.

• Get pets out of the house. You can take them for a walk, have a neighbour watch them, or take them to a good kennel.

• Turn on all the lights, even during the day. You want each room to look bright. There is a reason that showhomes will have every light in every room ON.

• If there are any maintenance issues, such as a dripping faucet or a sticky door, let your Realtor know. Often, it’s best for buyers to be told rather than discover such issues themselves. Better yet, get these items fixed. They will show up in a property inspection anyways.

• Open the curtains. The brighter the better!

• Move your vehicles from the driveway so the buyer can park there. (That can help them imagine living there, which is what you want!)

• Avoid cooking just before a viewing. Even if the meal is wonderful, the aroma may linger. (Some people don’t like the smell of certain dishes, which may turn them off your home) 

• Freshen up the outdoor space. Mow the lawn. Sweep the walkway. Clear the snow.

This viewing checklist will help you prepare your home so when the buyer comes in your front door, there’s a much better chance he or she will be impressed.

I always do a walk-through with sellers prior to photographing their home for the listing to make the photos pop. With the number of homes on the market, it is important that the listing looks fantastic. It is my job to make recommendations one-on-one on how to stage a particular home prior to viewings as well. We are a team and I am here to help!

Shauna Ylagan

Lange Realty 

780-938-3146