Preparing your home for an open house is an important step in the home-selling process. By making a checklist, you can ensure that your home is ready to impress potential buyers and fetch a higher price. Remember to declutter, deep clean, repair damages, improve your curb appeal, stage your home, depersonalize, and make necessary repairs.
Here are some tips to prepare your home for a successful open house:
Declutter your home
Remove any excess items, furniture, or personal belongings that make your home look crowded or messy. This will help potential buyers see the space and imagine themselves living in it.
Deep clean your home
Make sure your home is spotless and free of any dust, dirt, stains, odors, or pests. Pay attention to details such as windows, carpets, floors, appliances, fixtures, and bathrooms. A clean home shows that you care about its maintenance and condition.
Repaint your walls
A fresh coat of paint can make a big difference in the appearance and mood of your home. Choose neutral colors that appeal to a wide range of buyers and complement your furniture and decor. Avoid bright or dark colors that may be too bold or personal for some tastes.
Repair any damages
Fix any issues that may affect the functionality or safety of your home, such as leaks, cracks, holes, broken tiles, faulty wiring, etc. You don’t want to give buyers any reason to doubt the quality or value of your home.
Improve your curb appeal
The exterior of your home is the first impression that buyers will have of your property. Make sure it looks inviting and attractive by trimming the lawn, pruning the trees and shrubs, planting flowers, sweeping the walkway, painting the door, etc.
Stage your home
Arrange your furniture and decor in a way that showcases the best features and potential of your home. You want to create a cozy and comfortable atmosphere that buyers can relate to and envision themselves in. You can also add some touches of style and personality with accessories such as pillows, rugs, lamps, art, etc.
Depersonalize your home
Remove any items that reflect your personal preferences or identity, such as family photos, religious symbols, political posters, collections, etc. You want buyers to focus on the home itself and not on who lives there or what they believe in.
Organize your closets
Buyers will likely look inside your closets to check the storage space and organization. Make sure your closets are neat and tidy by sorting out your clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. You can also use bins, baskets, shelves, hooks, etc. to maximize the space and keep things in order.
Let in natural light
Natural light can make your home look brighter, bigger, and more welcoming. Open the curtains or blinds and let the sunshine in. You can also use mirrors, lamps, candles, etc. to enhance the lighting and ambiance of your home.
Set the mood
You want to create a positive and pleasant mood for buyers when they visit your home. You can use music, scents, flowers, snacks, etc. to appeal to their senses and emotions. For example, you can play some soft background music, light some candles or diffusers with soothing aromas, offer some cookies or coffee, etc.
Clean the garage
The garage is often overlooked or neglected when preparing for an open house. However, it is an important part of your home that buyers will also inspect. Make sure your garage is clean and organized by removing any clutter or junk, sweeping the floor, wiping the walls and shelves, etc.
Create a welcoming entrance
The entrance is another key area that sets the tone for the rest of your home. Make sure it is inviting and appealing by adding a welcome mat, a wreath on the door, a potted plant, a bench, etc.
Remove pets
Pets are adorable but they can also be a distraction or a nuisance for some buyers. They may cause allergies, odors, noise, or damage to your home. It is best to remove them from your home during the open house or arrange for someone to take care of them elsewhere.
Secure valuables
While most buyers are honest and respectful, there may be some who are not. It is wise to secure any valuables or personal items that you don’t want to lose or expose, such as jewelry, cash, documents, medications, electronics, etc. You can lock them in a safe, a drawer, or a closet, or take them with you when you leave.
So to recap everything here are the things that you need to do:
Declutter your home
Deep clean your home
Repaint your walls
Repair any damages
Improve your curb appeal
Stage your home
Depersonalize your home
Organize your closets
Let in natural light
Set the mood
Clean the garage
Create a welcoming entrance
Remove pets
Secure valuables
Keep it Foxy,
"Mr Foxy"
Damon H
Sales Manager & Founder