You probably know you should clean your house and make sure it passes the sniff test before your agent holds an open house. But there are a few finer details that often slip under the radar of even the most attentive homeowners…
Here are five things you should add to your to-do list before your agent opens the door to welcome your first potential buyer:
1) Mow the Morning Of
Your lawn is like the welcome mat to your property, so rev up your lawn mower and give it a trim the morning of your open house, even if it’s not overgrown. Beyond making your curb appeal pop just a little bit more, the smell of a freshly mown lawn is a nice, subtle touch.
2) Make It a Lightbulb Moment
A burned out bulb may not seem like a big deal, but it can actually make buyers feel like there might be other things you’ve neglected around the house as well. So before your open house, go through each room and make sure all the light bulbs are working. While you’re at it, switch them out with a higher wattage if a room is too dark, or get some “warmer” temperature bulbs to create a more intimate feel in certain areas of your home.
3) Fine Tune the Thermostat to “Just Right”
This might sound trivial, but temperature can make or break how a buyer feels about your home. If they’re too hot or too cold, they’re not going to focus on what your home has to offer, and may not even stick around if they’re too uncomfortable. But that doesn’t mean you should crank the heat up, or the AC down. Set the thermostat to a comfortable, neutral temperature — think Goldilocks, not too hot, not too cold, but just right.
4) Hide Your Drugs…
Obviously you don’t want to leave any illegal drugs or paraphernalia lying around, but what we’re talking about here is your prescription meds. Sadly, some people use open houses as an opportunity to score any kind of pill they can get their hands on. Your agent will certainly do their best to keep an eye on every guest, but all it takes is a second for someone to grab a bottle setting on the bathroom sink, or kitchen counter. Gather all of your prescription meds and put them in a safe place nobody will be able to stumble upon them.
5) …And Your Mail While You’re at It
Beside the fact that a pile of unopened mail isn’t very sightly, it’s also an opportunity for an interested buyer to glean insight into who you are, which could impact negotiations. For example, if there’s a letter from a collection agency or a divorce attorney, it might make them feel like you’re desperate. You don’t have to open your mail, or pay all of the bills until they’re due, but you really should at least stick them in a drawer or filing cabinet you can lock up while people are touring your home.
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