The "Home Hunters" - Preparing Your Home For Market

First impressions count with buyers. You don't get a second chance to make a good first impression, so a small investment in time and money can give your house the advantage over competing homes in your neighbourhood when it comes time for your sales representative to show it to a prospective buyer.

A buyer makes a decision whether or not they want to buy your home sometimes within 5 seconds of walking through the front door. The idea behind home staging is to prepare you home to appeal to the widest audience of viewers. Like a display suite, your house should encourage buyers to visualize living there.

If your home is cluttered or out-dated, here are some suggestions for preparing your home for showing:

WELL MAINTAINED repair leaky taps & toilets clean furnace & humidifier tighten door knobs repair cracked plaster touch up chipped paint clean & repair windows replace burned out light bulbs oil squeaking doors tighten cupboard latches	CURB APPEAL cut lawn trim hedges & shrubs weed & edge gardens pick up litter & dog droppings clear walks of snow & leaves repair soffets & eavestroughs clean out garage touch up paint wash vinyl siding
CLEANLINESS clean & freshen bathrooms put out fresh soap & towels clean refrigerator & stove clean furnace exterior clean washer, dryer & laundry tubs clean carpets make beds	CREATE A BUYING MOOD turn on all lights turn up heat in winter turn on air conditioning light fireplace open drapes in daytime curb your pet, clean litter boxes and pet sleeping areas
WHEN THE DOOR OPENS clean & tidy the porch & foyer does the doorbell work? is the door hardware in good shape? is the air fresh? don't use strong smells or air fresheners to mask odors	LOTS OF SPACE clear halls & stairs store surplus furniture clear kitchen counters & stove make closets neat & tidy take photos/notes off fridge

During the showing of your home either relocate to another area of the home (away from immediate activity) or, better yet, vacate the home. With a little effort you can make your home ready to sell quicker and for a better price.