There are many tips and tricks for preparing your home to look its best for showings and open houses. Here are a few that can really up the ‘wow’ factor for potential buyers.

 

1. Use your spaces wisely - If you have a spare room or a ‘storage’ area that is usually neglected, try to tidy and transform it into something such as a reading nook, an office, or something that shows potential buyers a great idea for that space.

 

2. Careful Lighting - Try to have warm and inviting light everywhere possible. Ensure that the currently installed lightbulbs are a bright enough watt to light up a space, and lamps can remedy the dark corners of a room. It’s good to vary your lighting sources as well, by having overhead lighting, accent lighting, and lamps or pendant lighting that an be used for reading, under-cabinets, etc.

 

3. Freshen Up - Having fresh flowers or plants around the house not only looks great, but it can prevent any musty odours from lingering and even brighten up some spaces. You could also change them seasonally to add colour and appeal, such as holly branches in the winter.

 

4. No Ongoing Projects - If you have any ongoing projects around the house, like repairs or half-finished updates, make sure they are complete before you start showings. Buyers may asked for a reduced price if they feel that there is a lot of work for them to do after purchasing the home.

 

5. Clean and Polished - Having professional cleaners come through the house prior to the start of showing your home is always a great idea, but it can be a DIY task as well. Wash all the windows, repaint any worn areas (indoors and out), plant inviting blooms in the garden, power wash the sidewalk and walkway, and generally try to keep the house spick and span. 

 

If you have children, get all their toys tidied away prior to any showings or open houses.

 

6. Welcome Buyers In - Whether you have a giant porch or a small doorstep, it’s good to have it tidy with a welcome mat and anything from attractive porch furniture to a potted plant beside the door. Keeping the porch light on in the evening will illuminate the area in case potential buyers want to drive by and check it out prior to a showing or open house.

 

On the inside, having rooms accessorized with inexpensive touches like a decorative basket and candles in the bathroom, or a bowl of fruit in the kitchen, can also make a great impression.

 

7. Declutter - Find a good balance between a clean and ‘lived-in’ look and try to keep spaces ‘gender-neutral’ to appeal to all manner of buyers. Even spaces like closets and drawers may be looked in, so keep a tidy space and even go as far as leaving closet doors open to invite potential buyers to take a look. Having some empty space in each closet can also give them a more spacious feel.

 

8. Clever Use of Paint - A room can be made to look bigger than it actually is by painting it the same colour as an adjacent room. It’s also important to use inviting, neutral colours to make the space feel open and more relaxing. Anything from a warm tan to a soft blue-green. Try to avoid going overboard with any extreme ‘personal style’ in the decor, as it may not be what buyers are looking for in their own future home.

 

9. Rearrange - Having furniture ‘floating’ away from walls, and moving couches and seats into conversational groupings can make the room seem larger and more open, moreso than leaving everything against a wall.

 

 

Ensuring that your house looks clean and inviting will draw in more potential buyers and likely increase the amount that people will be willing to pay you for it.

 

 

Until next time,

 

Darin