Making Your Home a Showing Success

Showing your home effectively to prospective home-buyers is one of the most important aspects of the entire selling process, yet it’s amazing how many homeowners don’t make the most of this opportunity. A home showing, whether it’s a showing appointment or an open house, is your best opportunity to capture the interest – and hopefully the emotions – of a prospective buyer. It’s your chance to distinguish your home form all the others in your area and price range, and make a connection with your viewers.

Help potential buyers visualize this property as their home, not yours.

One of the best ways to make this emotional connection is to help potential buyers visualize this property as their home, not yours. In addition to cleaning the home from top to bottom, you should also start the process of de-cluttering and de-personalizing. By removing the majority of your personal mementos and decorative items from the landscape, you are creating a blank canvas where the buyers can picture setting up their own belonging. Remember that they’re looking for a home that most closely suits their own possessions, not how well it showcases yours. This is one of those cases where less is definitely more, so why not start the packing process early.

Pop out for a bit before the potential buyers arrive, and come back after they’re gone.

While there are many things that you can do to help make the showing of your property a success, the most important one may surprise you. One of the best ways you can help me conduct a successful showing is to pop out for a bit before the potential buyers arrive, and come back after they’re gone. Surprised? Don’t be. Prospective buyers rarely speak their minds when they think the homeowner may still be in earshot. If your viewers don’t speak freely about their objections or concerns, that doesn’t leave much opportunity for me to counter them, offer solutions and point out other compensating factors. Having the homeowners present in the property also tends to make viewers feel less comfortable taking a good look around. They feel as if they are intruding and tend to skip through rooms quickly. Your presence could inhibit the viewer’s ability to picture themselves living there; it still seems like someone else’s home. This is particularly true if other family members, children and pets are present, as some buyers may be allergic. Even the best-behaved children can distract your prospective buyers from their purpose, and in the case of pets, they can be a downright turnoff to some people.

You’ve chosen me as your REALTOR® for my ability to showcase the best selling points of our home and to counter objections as they arise. Following these two key steps gives me the freedom to do my job to the best of my ability. Whether it’s an open house or a showing appointment, bundle up the kids and pets in the car, go out for a walk in the park, or grab a treat, and leave the showing to me. It will make all the difference in selling your home.

Staging your home with personality is what's going to make a potential buyer

fall in love with your home.

Home Staging is a marketing tool that gives your property an edge, bringing you ahead of the competition – both online and in person.

94% of buyers aged 25-44 use the internet to search for homes before deciding whether or not to view a property, which means that photos are the most important determining factor when buyers and Agents make their first impression on your home.

By preparing your home for sale and showcasing beautifully staged rooms, you ensure your photos will stand-out amongst the competition, giving buyers a reason to want to view your home, generating more foot traffic, and once they step foot into your home the impact will be evident.

If you choose to do this yourself, just be careful distinguishing between clutter and décor. A professional will know how much to pack away and how much to keep out. De-cluttering too much will leave a home feeling sterile and lacking personality, which is almost as bad as a messy, cluttered home. You’ve chosen me as your REALTOR® and Designer, so you're in good hands!