Steps to a Great Showing

You only get one opportunity to make a good impression, so you want to make it count. By following these guidelines, you’ll enhance the attractiveness of your property and reduce the time it takes to generate serious offers.

First Impressions
How your property appears from the outside is important. To make a good first impression on a buyer, a clean driveway, a freshly mown lawn or a trimmed hedge will work wonders. Do a critical inspection of the exterior of your property, paying special attention to the condition of your windows, shutters, screens and gutters. One of the first things a buyer will notice is the need for painting. If your property looks like it needs painting, many buyers will form an unfavorable impression. Elsewhere, little things count. Make sure the front door is spotless, including the doorknob, and that the windows gleam.

Cleanliness Counts
Once inside your property, one of the key factors that influences its appeal to a buyer is cleanliness. Most important is front hallway, the kitchen and the bathrooms. Do a room-by-room cleaning, and don’t forget any out-of-sight areas because that’s often where a discriminating buyer will look first.

Less is More
Clutter makes a poor impression. In closets, cabinets, kitchen countertops and other storage areas like basements, remove anything not needed for daily housekeeping. To make each room in your property look larger, remove unnecessary furniture. Walk through your property and think: “Less is more.”

Repairs
Make sure everything is in good working order. Dripping faucets, squeaky steps and loose doorknobs can easily create a bad impression and reduce the value of your property. A few hours spent on repairs, whether by yourself or a tradesman, can pay big dividends when an offer is made.

Little Things Count
It’s easy to improve the appearance of any room. You may want to replace worn rugs or small pillows, put new towels in the bathroom or brighten up a room with a vase of flowers.

Pull Together
Get all the members of your household to pull together when it comes to getting – and keeping – your property ready to view. By getting everyone into the habit of spending a few minutes tidying up every morning for an afternoon showing, you improve your chances considerably.

Scheduling the Showing
Coordination is the key. Unless you have instructed us otherwise, before a sales associate from our firm or a cooperating broker shows or previews your property, you will be contacted to schedule an appointment. You will then be notified of the timing, and, if it’s acceptable, the appointment will be confirmed. If you can’t be reached, the showing will be declined. If the time doesn't work for you, let us know so we can work to reschedule without losing the opportunity to show your home to an interested buyer.

Timing
Some buyers may ask to see your property as soon as possible. In such cases, a showing could take place within an hour or so. If a buyer requests a change to the timing of a scheduled showing, you’ll be given as much notice as possible. It's a good practice to leave the house ten to fifteen minutes early and arrive shortly after the scheduled time. If a buyer has left a previous showing early because they marked another house off they might arrive to your wonderful house early. If a buyer is interested in your home they may "hang around" even after their appointment time discussing an offer with us or their agent.

Privacy
The fewer people around during a showing, the better. It’s also a good rule to let the buyer roam freely and discuss the property with the sales associate without interruption or the presence of an owner or tenant. A properly briefed agent will know the buyer’s needs and will be able to point out the features that meet the requirements.

Previews
Occasionally, sales associates may schedule an appointment to view your property without a buyer. By familiarizing themselves with what’s on the market, they will be an excellent position to alert a buyer to a property that fits the bill.

Unscheduled Appointments
Ask any people who show up to view your property without an appointment to telephone the listing agent to request a showing. Even if the person identifies himself or herself as a licensed agent, an appointment request must be made first through your agent!