Selling Your Home Yourself - Part 7: Showing Your Home

Tip 85: It bothers me…

When buyers come to visit, make sure there is nothing about your house that will distract them.  Make sure the entrance door is clean, and if it’s winter time, make sure the snow has been cleared. 

Ensure that the entranceway is well lit and doesn’t look in disarray.  Remove coats and other clothing from their field of vision, no skis by the doorway, no ball or other play objects that may obstruct the path or cause them to trip over.  A buyer who trips in your house is a terrible way to start. 

Tip 86: Dust collectors.

Buyers must feel that the seller has taste and class.  Get rid of clutter before their visit.  Dust collecting trophies and souvenir items bought during trips can make an ugly sight especially if they’re too close to one another without any order and are thick with dust!

Tip 87: Surround yourself with beauty.

Of course be old-fashioned:  good lights and flowers would be nice (not too much though – your buyer could be allergic to flower scents).

Tip 88: I knew you’d ask that!

Putting up signs to answer frequent questions can save you time.  It’s also an efficient way to let you give the tour without being interrupted too many times. 

Signs can include things like:  condo fees are $150.00 per month, appliances, fixtures and draperies are included with the sale, garage and garden equipment are included, china not included, there are 8 phone jacks on the first floor and 3 on the second floor, there is a wireless connection, shelves are included, etc.

Tip 89: Children OK, animals NO!

Get your pets out of the way.  You won’t know in advance who is allergic to dogs and cats.  Plus the barking of dogs and the meowing of cats can be very distracting, and an annoyance for non-pet lovers.

Tip 90: Who’s that standing by the door?

Before buyers come, it’s good to have a closer.  The closer should be clearly visible to buyers, and should be near the door so he/she can keep track of buyers who arrive and leave the property. 

The closer can usually tell by your instincts who are the interested buyers.  When the closer asks if they want to know how the bidding process works, those who are not interested will simply say no and leave.

Continue to: Part 8: Negotiations, Settlement and Contract