Keep it Clean

Ensure the house is always clean. Showings can happen unexpectedly, and nothing turns a buyer away like a dirty house. Make sure your client knows to keep their dishes out of the sink and dishwasher, keep dust bunnies out of the corners, and pick up any daily clutter (i.e. mail on the counter, shoes by the door, cups on the nightstand). 

It is also important to make sure the house is deep-cleaned before it hits the market. Recommend your client hires someone if they are unable to do so themselves.

Key places to clean while the home is on the market include: 

• Kitchen countertops 
• Inside cabinets and appliances 
• Floors and baseboards, especially where dust can easily collect
• Shelves 
• Bathroom counters, toilets, tubs, and showers
• Inside closets
• Windows, inside and out
• Scuffed walls and doors
• Basement and garage

Increase the Curb Appeal 

First impressions matter, especially when it comes to home buying. No matter how good the interior of the home looks, buyers have already judged the home before they walk in the door. It’s important to make the potential buyers feel welcome and safe as they approach the house. 

Make sure your clients keep the grass mowed, bushes trimmed, and the front porch swept. It also doesn’t hurt if they pressure wash their sidewalks and pathways, plant some new flowers, or add a new doormat. Entryways are just as important, so encourage your clients to find a hidden place for their coats and keys and add things like a vase of fresh flowers or a small bench.

Put Away the Pets 

While your client’s furry friends may be cute and cuddly to most, not everyone is a dog or cat lover. Potential buyers don’t want to walk into a home and see half-chewed dog toys everywhere, smell kitty litter, or leave with pet hair on their clothes. It can give the impression that the home is not clean and can deter buyers. Have your clients pick up after their pets and deodorize as often as possible. This tip goes back to increasing curb appeal as well, make sure clients pick up after their pets when they do their business in the yard!

Encourage your clients to find another place for their pets to go during open houses or showings and give them as much notice as possible when buyers are coming to look. 

Take the Home out of the House

It is extremely difficult for buyers to picture themselves in a home when it is filled with someone else’s personal items. Have your clients put things like family photos, collections, keepsakes, and memorabilia in storage. Tell them to declutter things like office spaces, playrooms, and bedrooms so that buyers can envision the space as their own.

Also, encourage your clients to take advantage of this pro tip: take half of the stuff out of the closets and other storage areas, and organize what is left. Storage is a huge selling point for buyers, so doing this will make the space look bigger, and less cluttered, and will allow the buyer to picture their personal items in the space.  

Leave on the Lights

Great lighting, both natural and artificial, are at or near the top of many buyers’ wishlists. Have your clients do things like clean the windows and lampshades and open curtains and blinds before showings. If they want to take it a step further, they can increase the wattage of lightbulbs in the rooms that have less natural light available. 

Don’t forget to remind your clients to leave the lights in their homes before they leave for showings. It makes the place more bright and welcoming for buyers, as no one wants to walk into a dark and unfamiliar house. 

Complete Minor Repairs & Renovations 

Make sure to inform your clients that quick fixes always pay off. These could include fixing a leaky faucet, ensuring the closet doors are on track, and replacing torn window screens. Doing minor renovations like updating light fixtures and cabinet hardware can pay off significantly as well. 

One of the cheapest and easiest upgrades to a home is a fresh coat of paint. Encourage your clients to update their homes with neutral, bright colors. This can help buyers more easily picture their own style, make the house look updated, and eliminate any scuffs or fades that may be present. 

Sharing the Knowledge

Buying a home takes vision, and creating an atmosphere for potential buyers to see themselves living in your house helps them imagine what it would really be like.  Sharing these tips and tricks with your clients can lead to a more seamless experience for everyone. As always, feel free to share eHome America’s other resources, like blogs and courses here.