Feeling like upping your game when it comes to showing listings? It doesn’t really matter if you’re just starting on your real estate journey or if you’re a seasoned realtor, finding new ways to make your property showings stand out is always exciting!
You’ve got the basics down, like the home being clean and tidy, smelling great, the curtains open. But as professional stagers, we have a few extra tips and tricks up our sleeve to really make your listing shine at each and every showing. Here are a few you may not have thought of before!
1. Pay Attention to the Lightbulbs
We all know that good lighting is essential to showing your listing, but what actually is good lighting?
Yes, good lighting does include replacing any burnt out or missing bulbs and being sure to add lighting to dark areas of a home. But here’s the trick: the color of the bulbs in a home can actually change the perception of a potential buyer.
Lightbulbs come in various colors, primarily categorized as warm, cool, and daylight.
Warm lightbulbs emit a soft, yellowish glow. We recommend to mostly stay away from warm lightbulbs, as they can often create an orange hue in photographs.
On the other hand, cool lightbulbs give off a bluish-white light that can make a space feel clean and modern. We recommend using these for kitchens and bathrooms!
However, our favorite lightbulb color to use is daylight. Daylight bulbs give off a bright, white light that is the closest mimic to natural sunlight that you can get. These can be used anywhere in the house and will make the room feel larger, more open, and showcase the true colors in any space.
To make any showing really shine, make sure all light fixtures have working bulbs of the same color. If the lighting in a room seems yellow or dim, switch all lightbulbs to daylight bulbs! This will give potential buyers the impression that the listing is well-maintained, clean, and inviting.
2. Hide Away Even More
Even if you’ve already hidden away any mess and clutter, we always recommend that you don’t stop there. Hiding away items that may distract buyers during a showing can improve the buyer’s perception of the home!
Small kitchen appliances like toasters, coffee makers, and blenders should be tucked away, showcasing the clean, spacious countertop area. Even hiding just these items can make a kitchen appear larger and more functional so potential buyers can envision themselves cooking in their new home.
Other “everyday items” like trash cans, knife blocks, and dish drying racks should also be tucked away. Especially in kitchens, a streamlined, minimal look will attract potential buyers and give them an amazing impression of the home.
The goal here is to minimize visual distractions and create an environment that feels orderly and inviting. In this case, less is more.
3. Clean The Front Door
One often overlooked area of a house is the front door. The front door is the first impression of your listing that a potential buyer will have, so preparing for it is essential!
Make sure the front door is clean and free of any dirt, smudges, or scratches. Give the surface a good scrub and the handles a shine. If it’s a little old or outdated, a fresh coat of paint is a cheap and easy fix.
Sweeping the walkway and rinsing off the pavement gives the impression to potential buyers that the home is clean and well-maintained.
Adding a new, clean welcome mat and a beautiful blooming potted plant immediately makes the entrance to the home warm and welcoming!
It really comes down to attention to detail. We believe that’s the key to showing your listings in the best possible light. We know that you invest so much in preparing properties for showings! Sometimes it may be that you will be doing most of the prep, but if not, these are excellent recommendations to give to your sellers.
Want a little help remembering all your pre-showing tasks? Need a handy resource to give to your sellers to help them prep for showings? We took the liberty of compiling The Ultimate Pre-Showing Checklist! You can download it for free to keep as a reminder on your phone, or print a copy for you and your sellers. We hope it helps!
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