Once you have put your house up for sale on the market, through an agent or privately, you will need to concentrate on getting your home ready for viewings, in order to give it the best chance of being sold quickly, and at the best possible price.
To begin with, analyze your house critically, as if you were viewing it for the first time. Does it have enough kerb appeal? First impressions matter a lot, and can make all the difference between a deal and no deal, so make sure the exterior of your house is attractive enough to impress potential buyers at first glance.
Make sure the front yard is well maintained, and properly trimmed and manicured, free of weeds and clutter. After the front garden, focus on the front door of your house; carefully examine it, determine whether it needs a coat of fresh paint or refinishing, and whether the door knobs and fixtures need to be polished or replaced. Paying attention the area around the front door is also essential; place a couple of flower pots next to the door, to give it a more cheerful, welcoming look.
Once the exterior is taken care of, you will need to examine the interior of the house with a critical eye. The way you live in your home and the way you prepare it for a viewing are two different things entirely. Once it is on the market, it is in competition with other comparable houses and should look like a model home.
Start with the entrance; make sure all the light bulbs are functional and turn them on if the potential buyers are coming in the evening or after dark. Once inside, ensure that the main hallway is free of clutter; do not leave any shoes, umbrellas, or coats lying around in plain sight. If there are any tables or shelves near the entrance area, keep them neat and clutter free.
Add a sense of space to the hallways and rooms by removing all unnecessary things – even furniture, if it obstructs smooth movement through the room, or makes the area appear small. Remove all the personal and family photographs from the walls, as they may irritate the viewers, and keep pets out of the way.
If you are selling the house through an estate agent, he should accompany the visitors. Greet the buyers but give them space to look around freely, leaving it to your agent to accompany them during the viewing. Explain to the visitors that you will be happy to answer any questions at the end. It is recommended that you try and show the best room in the end, in order to finish on a high.
While showing your house to potential buyers is a vital part of the entire selling process, you must ensure your personal safety during the viewings too. It is always a better idea to ask your agent to conduct the viewings on your behalf. However, if you have to host the potential buyers yourself, there are some preventive measures that you should take in order to avoid any unpleasant incident.
Make sure you get all of the buyers’ details from the agent when arranging the time for the viewing, and then ask the buyers to confirm all these details when they come to see the house. If you are alone in the house, it is a good idea to ask a friend or a trustworthy neighbour to accompany you while you show the home to the buyer.