How to Show Your Home

It's show time - and buyers (the kind with deep pockets) are dropping by to see your home. Are you ready?

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Flowers
• For Sale Signs
• Tapes Or CDs

1. Prepare (or have your real estate agent prepare) fact sheets on your home; these one-page flyers should include price, square footage, floor-by-floor listing of rooms, dimensions of major rooms, tax bills, utilities, broker's name, phone numbers to call, and an exterior photo of the home.
2. Prepare (or have your real estate agent prepare) a sign-in sheet for visitors.
3. Keep your home in show condition at all times - you never know when an agent will want to drop by with a client.
4. Improve the look and feel of your home with fresh flowers, soft music and clean walkways and street curbs.
5. Place signs on items that will not be sold with the property, such as washers, dryers or dining room fixtures.
6. Let buyers look around on their own so they can discuss your home privately, but be readily available for questions.
7. Keep children busy and quiet and keep pets away from the action.

Tips & Warnings

• Make rooms look brighter with high-wattage bulbs.
• Open drapes and curtains to let more light in.
• Put all prescriptions, medications and valuables in a secure place.
• Be careful not to say anything that may be offensive to buyers. Talk about the property, not people.