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Appeal To The Home Buyer’s Senses

Tips for Showing Your Home

Once you've prepared your home for sale, keep a checklist of items to help you showcase your property to potential homebuyers. Remember that your home will be judged not only on its outward appearance, but also on the feelings it evokes in those who view the property.

Sight

• Use light to showcase your home.
• Open draperies in the daytime and turn on lights (day and night) to accentuate a cheerful atmosphere.
• If you have a fireplace, burn a Duraflame log.
• Remove any potentially offensive posters or signs.

Sound

• Consider playing soft background music while people tour your home.
• If there is exterior noise, such as traffic or nearby construction, work with your sales associate to schedule showings around noisy times of day.

• Grinding fresh lemon in a garbage disposal or boiling cinnamon sticks can add a clean, fresh scent.
• Candles, potpourri and flowers look nice and smell pleasant.
• Lingering scents of strong-smelling foods, smoke or pets should be aired out prior to showing the home.

• Your home should appear livable.
• Potential homebuyers may like to sit in a living area and visit with their sales associate.

• Baking cookies or bread before showing the home adds a pleasant scent to the home.
• Adding to the hospitable atmosphere, potential homebuyers may also appreciate a cookie or lemonade.

• To ensure your safety, remember to remove keys, jewelry and other valuables from the home during showings.
• Be sure to share necessary information with your sales associate and potential homebuyers.
• Gather manuals and warranties on appliances in the home.
• Make a list of items to be excluded from the sale of the home and whenever possible, remove them from the property.
  (For example, an outdoor hot tub may look as though it is part of the home, but you plan to take it with you when you move.)