Big
Bear Real Estate
1. Hire a cleaning service. A
spotlessly clean home is essential; dirt will turn off a prospect
faster than anything.
2. Mow your lawn, and be sure
toys and yard equipment are put away.
3. Serve cookies, coffee, and
soft drinks. It creates a welcoming touch. But be sure the kitchen
has been cleaned up; use disposable cups so the sink doesn’t
fill up.
4. Lock up your valuables, jewelry,
and money. Although the real estate salesperson will be on site
during the open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all
the time.
5. Turn on all the lights. Even
in the daytime, incandescent lights add sparkle.
6. Send your pets to a neighbor
or take them outside. If that’s not possible, crate them or
confine them to one room (a basement or bath), and let the salesperson
know where to find them.
7. Leave. It’s awkward for
prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions
of your home with you there.
1. Put fresh or silk flowers in
principal rooms for a touch of color.
2. Add a new shower curtain, fresh
towels, and new guest soaps to every bath.
3. Set out potpourri or fresh
baked goods for a homey smell.
4. Set the table with pretty dishes
and candles.
5. Buy a fresh doormat with a
clever saying.
6. Take one or two major pieces
of furniture out of every room to create a sense of spaciousness.
7. Put away kitchen appliances
and personal bathroom items to give the illusion of more counter
space.
8. Lay a fire in the fireplace.
Or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.
9. Depersonalize the rooms by
putting away family photos, mementos, and distinctive artwork.
10. Turn on the sprinklers
for 30 minutes to make the lawn sparkle.
Reprinted
from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
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