The photographs are done, your listing is ready to go live and now it’s time to get your home ready for open inspections. Your home has to look just as beautiful and immaculate in real life as it does in your real estate photos in order to make the best possible first impression on potential buyers when they arrive on your doorstep.
Here are some quick tips from our team at JT Allen to follow before each inspection time:
- On the outside
Ensure that lawns are freshly mown, gardens weeded and paths, driveways and gutters are clean. Empty the mailbox, take any washing off the line and hide the rubbish bins. Put out a fresh new front doormat.
- Do the floors and beds
Go through the whole house and sweep, mop or vacuum all floors and make sure all beds are made and dressed in their best bedlinen.
- Empty waste bins
Empty all waste bins in kitchen, bathroom, home office etc and make sure there is no dirty linen hanging about in the laundry.
- In the kitchen
Clear all surfaces of clutter, wipe them down and light a scented candle for about an hour to get rid of any lingering cooking odours. Don’t leave any tea towels visible unless they are brand new and have never been used.
- In the bathroom
Make sure all surfaces are clean, replace the toilet roll with a brand new one and hang brand new fluffy towels that have never been used and a fresh new bathmat. Replace any toiletries on show with beautifully packaged new ones that have not been opened.
- Dust all surfaces
Give all other surfaces such as bedside tables a quick dust and wipe over timber furniture with a fragrant polish such as orange oil to give the whole house a fresh, clean smell.
- Pets
If you have pets, make sure all evidence of them is removed such as pet bowls and dog beds. Leave Fido and Lola with a neighbour or take them out for a walk for the duration of the inspection.
- Let there be light
Open all window coverings to let in as much natural light as possible and check that all windows are sparkling clean. Open the windows if the weather is warm. Open all internal doors and turn all the lights on, including lamps and bedside lighting.
- Add the magic of flowers
Add vases of flowers or greenery in appropriate places throughout the house to bring your immaculate rooms to life.
Take a breath to admire your handiwork, do a final tour of the house to ensure you haven’t missed anything, pack away all the cleaning equipment you’ve used or put it in your car ready to vacate your house as soon as your real estate agent arrives.
By this time, your house will look fresh, clean and welcoming to potential buyers and make a brilliant first impression on them. The more effort you put into the presentation of your house or apartment, the more likely buyers will fall head over heels in love with it – ensuring you get the highest possible selling price in the quickest possible time.
At JT Allen Real Estate, we are your partners in this process and your expert advisors on what cosmetic changes to your home could maximise your sale price. We can also advise you on other experts you can rely on including property stylists, painters and other tradespeople, gardeners, lawn mowing services, professional cleaners and more. We know that selling a home can be a stressful business and we strive to support you and advise you throughout the entire process so you gain the best possible sales result with the least possible stress!