Once people realize your house is on the market, you are going to receive requests from buyers to view your home. The following best practices will help you get ready to show your home to these buyers:

• Store Valuables – Make sure items such as wallets, jewelry and loose money are put away and out of sight. While most buyers are only there to view the house, it’s always better to have these types of personal belongings safely stored.
• Minimize Distractions – At the time of the showing keep the number of people in the house to a minimum. If possible, make arrangements to have the kids and pets out of the house while the buyers are going through it.
• Create Space – Experts suggest opening up curtains and turning on lights to help create a sense of space. Store excessive personal items such as pictures, frames, paintings, magazines, etc.; anything that is unnecessary and could contribute to buyer biases. The goal is to make the house less about you. You want buyers to be able to picture themselves living there.
• Consider Aroma – Baked goods, lightly scented candles, or potpourri can help create a delightful and inviting aroma in the house. Be careful to avoid strong or overbearing aromas as buyers could have allergies to these types of strong scents. Put out fresh towels. Remove your pet’s favorite cushion, bed or litter box. Add fresh flowers or plants sparingly (avoid cluttering your home).
• Have Documents – Getting buyers to sign a guestbook is a good way to track the names and contact information of the people who have viewed your home. Have Feature Sheets which are quick reference documents identifying the highlights of the home ready to hand out to the buyers. It’s always a good idea to have supporting documents such as heating bills, electric bills, pool expenses and taxes handy in case the buyers are interested in these types of recurring expenses.
• Be Prepared – Make sure that you have enough time prior to the showing to tidy up any loose ends around the house. Make sure toys are put away, garbage is out of sight and pet areas are clean. There shouldn’t be any clutter lying around the house. You want the buyers to focus on the features, not the flaws, of the house. Allow buyers to walk around the house by themselves, but be available to answer any questions they may have.