Showtime! Prepare Your Home for a Showing to Sell Faster and For More
Home showing preparation can feel like a whirlwind, can’t it? One minute you’re thinking about listing, the next you’re bombarded with showing requests. But here’s a golden nugget of advice that can make all the difference, one that’s often overlooked in the initial excitement: true preparation starts long before the first buyer steps through your door, and even before you sign that listing agreement. As the team at Mantle Realty wisely points out, home showing preparation for showings isn’t just a last-minute scramble; it’s a strategic, proactive effort that covers everything from the smallest detail to the overall feel of your home.
Let’s dive into what real home showing preparation looks like, building on the critical points mentioned in our source.
1. The Visual Vibe: Beyond Just Laundry
Our source specifically highlights “putting away your laundry, folding clothes” as a key aspect of preparing for showings. While this might seem like a small detail in the home showing preparation checklist, it speaks volumes about a much larger principle: decluttering and cleanliness.
Think about it from a buyer’s perspective. When they walk into a home, they’re not just seeing your belongings; they’re trying to envision their life there. Piles of laundry, whether clean or dirty, signal a lack of order. A neat, organized space, however, suggests a well-cared-for home and allows buyers to mentally “move in.”
Expanding on this idea, “putting away your laundry” translates into a comprehensive decluttering mission. This means:
- Clear all surfaces: Kitchen counters, bathroom vanities, bedside tables – clear them of personal items, mail, and general clutter. Less is truly more when it comes to showing off space.
- Depersonalize: While your family photos and quirky collections make your house a home for you, they can make it harder for buyers to imagine it as their home. Pack away personal memorabilia, excessive decor, and anything that makes the home feel too specific to your tastes.
- Tidy up every room: This goes beyond just laundry. Are beds made? Are toys put away? Are closets and pantries organized (even if just superficially)? Buyers will open doors, so be prepared! A tidy home feels more spacious, more inviting, and generally more appealing. It communicates to potential buyers that the home has been well-maintained and cared for, giving them confidence in their potential investment.
2. The Scent Story: Making the Right Impression Through Smell
The source also emphasizes “how the property smells”. This is perhaps one of the most underestimated aspects of home selling. Smells evoke powerful emotions and memories, and a bad odor can instantly turn a buyer off, no matter how beautiful the house might otherwise be.
Consider these common culprits and solutions:
- Pet Odors: Even if you don’t notice them, lingering pet odors are often the first thing a non-pet owner will detect. Beyond just moving your animals out for showings (which we’ll discuss next), deep clean carpets, upholstery, and drapes. Open windows regularly to air out the house.
- Cooking Smells: Strong food odors, especially from fried foods or certain spices, can linger for days. Try to avoid cooking anything with a potent smell right before a showing.
- Mustiness/Mildew: These smells often indicate underlying issues like dampness or poor ventilation. Address the root cause if possible, and ensure good air circulation.
- Smoke: Whether from cigarettes or a fireplace, smoke odors permeate everything. This is one of the hardest smells to eliminate and often requires professional cleaning.
Instead of trying to mask odors with overpowering air fresheners, which can be just as off-putting, focus on eliminating the source of bad smells. Then, aim for a neutral, fresh scent. Think subtle and inviting. Baking a batch of cookies, brewing fresh coffee, or even diffusing a very light, natural essential oil (like citrus or vanilla) can create a warm, welcoming atmosphere, but ensure it’s not overwhelming. Fresh air is often the best “scent.”
3. The Pet Protocol: What to Do with Your Animals
“What you’re doing with your animals” is another critical point raised in the source for your home showing preparation. For many of us, pets are family members, but during showings, they can be a significant distraction or even a deterrent for buyers.
Here’s a breakdown of pet-related preparation:
- Physical Removal: The absolute best practice is to remove pets from the property entirely during showings. This means taking them for a walk, arranging for them to stay with a friend or family member, or using a pet-sitting service. This prevents potential allergic reactions, ensures the safety of both buyers and your pets, and eliminates any distractions.
- Evidence of Pets: Beyond the animal itself, clear away all signs of pet ownership. This includes food bowls, litter boxes, toys, beds, and especially any pet hair. Vacuum meticulously, especially in areas where your pet spends a lot of time.
- Damage/Wear: Be honest about any pet-related wear and tear (scratches on doors, worn carpets). Address these issues before listing if possible, as buyers will notice. And as mentioned, lingering pet odors are a major red flag.
The goal is to make it seem as if no pets live in the house (even if they do!), allowing buyers to focus on the home itself, not on your furry friends.
4. The Proactive Mindset: Ready Before You’re “Bombarded”
Perhaps the most insightful part of the source’s advice is to consider all these home showing preparations “before you actually even sign your listing agreement”. This pre-emptive approach ensures you’re “prepared whenever you get bombarded with all those showins”.
Why is this “before you sign” mindset so important?
- Reduces Stress: Trying to deep clean, declutter, and manage pets every time a showing request comes in is incredibly stressful. Being ready from day one alleviates this pressure.
- Maximizes Opportunity: When your home is consistently show-ready, you can accommodate last-minute showing requests, which might otherwise be missed opportunities. The faster and more frequently buyers can see your home in its best light, the quicker you’re likely to receive offers.
- Consistency is Key: Buyers often compare multiple properties. If your home looks impeccable for one showing but rushed and messy for the next, it creates an inconsistent impression. Being perpetually ready ensures every buyer sees your home at its absolute best.
- Better First Impression: The initial days on the market are often the most crucial. Having everything in place from the start ensures your home makes a stellar first impression, setting the tone for its entire listing period.
In essence, preparing for showings isn’t just about cleaning up. It’s about strategically presenting your home in the best possible light, addressing every sensory detail, and anticipating the buyer’s journey through your space. By tackling these tasks before you even hit the market, as Mantle Realty suggests, you’ll not only reduce your own stress but significantly increase your chances of a swift and successful sale. For a free, printable step‑by‑step home showing preparation checklist that covers decluttering, cleaning, odor control, curb appeal, pet prep, and more, check out REALTOR® Magazine’s “Checklist: For a Better Home Showing.” Get ready to impress, and watch those offers roll in!
