Dear David,
We’ve been contemplating putting our house on the market for a few months and feel like we are ready. How should we prepare to put our best foot forward? – SET TO SELL
DEAR SET: There are plenty of urban myths associated with putting a house on the market, from baking cookies to make the house smell good, to playing background music to help set the mood. Please don’t do these things, or anything else that might affront the senses. Focus on care and cleanliness. When your home is bright and tidy, buyers get the impression that someone else is watching out for their next purchase, and those good vibes can start before they even come inside. Gardens should be trimmed and tidy as if done professionally, and the same goes for shovelling snow.
With regards to smells, I recommend you stop cooking inside the house well in advance of showings (which includes baking cookies). We all have different sensitivities, which makes it hard to predict which smells might be off-putting to buyers. If you’re a smoker, stop smoking in or near the house and garage, as these smells linger longer than you think.
Be careful about playing background music. Music is not something that’s expected, and tends to be distracting as buyers may focus on your taste in music, rather than the house. Don’t give them something to dislike that has nothing to do with the property. I recommend speaking to your Realtor before making this choice.
Set the mood with lighting instead. Change your incandescent bulbs out for LEDs, which cost virtually nothing to run. These can be left on all week, so you’re instantly ready for any showings that book on short notice.
As much as you love your pets, remember that not everyone is an animal person. Be careful to avoid land mines in the backyard, scattered kitty litter or pet hair dust bunnies in the corners. Showing traffic is often busiest during your first week on the market, as this is when qualified buyers who’ve been waiting for a house like yours come through. Your first week on the market is a great time to send Rover of Fluffy to visit a family member, or even to the pet spa for a few days.
There are ways to make the showing process easier on you as well. Pick up a dozen large plastic totes to store off-season clothes and stack them neatly in the garage, which will tidy up your closets instantly. Put a piece of tape over the furnace switch in the utility room to ensure no one turns it off inadvertently. Have your Realtor install a second lock box with a spare key in a remote location, so you can’t get locked out if a Realtor accidentally locks a door your family uses regularly (like the man-door to the garage).
PRO TIP: If you have kids at home, involve them in the process. Incentivize them to keep their rooms tidy, bathrooms clean, and to clear the kitchen sink so it looks like no one lives there. There’s no need to leave the entire burden of showing a home up to mom and dad. #Advice #AskDavid #TheNegotiator
David is a top-selling Broker in Kitchener-Waterloo Region. He works personally with you when selling or buying your home. Moving? Get it right. Ask David today! Call or text 519-577-1212.
