Inspections are not a walk in the park. I learnt that first-hand during my recent campaign to sell my own house. Subsequently, I thought it was fitting to go into detail of how to take your inspections to the next level. Inspections show potential buyers how they can consider life in their potential home. So it is imperative that you portray the most desirable home scenario possible...
This is basically like saying “yep, I just took a poo this morning.” You want your home to feel as though no one has lived there before; as if its brand spanking new. You don’t want it to feel as if someone else is currently living there.
Further to toilet paper...please make sure your toilet bowls are clean. No skid marks thank you.
Family photos mean occupation - the one thing you want is for potential buyers to walk inside your home and see themselves living there - connect, fall in love and become so attached. By leaving family photos out, all you are doing is causing your potential buyers to block that connection. All they will be able to visualise will be you living in the home - not them.
Smell!
What do your potential buyers smell? It is so important that your home smells fresh and appealing...during my campaign, I had candles and essential oils on for at least 30 minutes before the openings. I wanted potential buyers to walk into my home and feel something.. There is nothing worse than walking in to a bedroom and smelling that stale smell of someone else.
During my openings, I have had Moroccan, soulful music playing in the kitchen. Not only does this show potential buyers what the home will be like when the music is on and they are occupying the house but it also “transports” the buyers. Music makes every moment more magical.. why wouldn’t we all want to make our openings more magical and almost mystical for our potential buyers.
Clutter - GET RID OF IT.No one wants to see or feel a messy home. Clean your drawers - I promise you they will be opened. I have attended many showings myself and I can honestly say I am so turned off when I go to a viewing and open a cupboard door and everything is shoved and jammed packed into the drawers and cupboards. It is just not appealing. This campaign, I made sure all my cupboards were in order (we generally keep everything super tidy behind doors, but I made extra effort to remove some clutter from the pantry. It makes me feel amazing too!)
The reality is that when you have kids - young and old - their stuff is strewn across living rooms and bedrooms . Often, to you, this cr*p becomes the norm and part of the furniture... but this is not the case for someone who is visiting your home. It sticks out like an iceberg. During our campaign, all of Jesse’s toys, tables, and 'stuff' was taken out of the living room. We knew our home would appeal more to someone without kids so we wanted to show the house as if there were no kids in the main areas (his bedroom we left as is obviously!)
Quite simply, a must.
Putting fresh fluffy towels is a must for every single inspection. You basically want new buyers to walk in to your home and feel that no one has lived here before and that they will be the first! Crunchy paper style towels, a big no no.... Wet and recently used towels.. a no no... smelly towels... a no no :)
Have I left any must do’s off the list? Let me know in the comments below!