5 final checks to make before a viewing
When you’re selling your home, the aim is to make buyers fall in love with it right from the start of their viewing.
Your agent should have already advised you about how to style each room in your home so that it really wows buyers – see our blog, ‘Wow your buyers with our top 10 styling tips’ – but what are the last-minute things you need to remember to do and check before people come through the door?
Here are our handy top 5 steps to making sure your home looks its absolute best for viewings.
An hour or so before buyers are due to arrive:
It really is true: first impressions count. So give the door a wipe-down, shake the mat and sweep the doorstep. If the viewing is in the late afternoon or evening, pop the outside lights on and make sure the doorbell works!
2.Vacuum the carpets
Newly vacuumed carpets can really lift the feel of a room and make buyers feel that they’re stepping into a fresh space. It also shows that the home is well looked after – and the same goes for clean hardwood floors. If you don’t have time to do the whole home, then focus on the hallway, main living rooms and primary bedroom.
3. Pop the heating on
领英推荐
Aim to have the house at a comfortable temperature by the time your potential buyers arrive, to help them feel welcome and relaxed.
And then with 15 minutes to go…
4. Get the kitchen smelling good and looking ready
Put some bread or cakes to warm in the oven, set out some cups, and prepare some coffee to offer your potential buyers when they’ve finished looking around. The kitchen is the heart of the home for many people, and the smell of fresh baking can evoke happy childhood memories that will help buyers visualise themselves living there
5. Light some scented candles
Our sense of smell is highly connected to our emotions, and a subtle scented candle can give any room an added depth. You don’t need to have too many – just pop a different scent in two or three key rooms. A spa-style candle in the bathroom, for instance – with scents like eucalyptus, rosemary or peppermint – could remind buyers of a luxurious break. And a soft, clean floral scent can work well in a living room or bedroom, perhaps putting buyers in mind of a peaceful summer garden.
Finally, a quick bonus tip: if you have a very ‘mobile’ pet, like a dog or a cat, be sympathetic to the fact that not everyone will be as keen on your furry family members as you are, and some potential buyers may even have allergies. So, if it’s possible for your neighbor to have your pet just while the viewing is taking place, that’s ideal. Otherwise, try to contain it in one of the less significant rooms in your home, along with its bed and toys.
?For more tips, see our blog, ‘6 simple steps to prepare your home for viewings’ https://bit.ly/3hOJEbY. And if you’d like any specific advice on getting your own home ready for marketing – or have any other general questions about selling – we’re always here to help and would love to hear from you! Call us directly on 01379 650680 or email [email protected] and one of the team will get right back to you.