For most people, the way in which they sell their home will follow a rather uniform process. First, we have the property valued by a number of real estate agents, then they curate the listing, and accept viewings from interested would-be buyers. Sometimes this can even take the form of an open house viewing where multiple people come to check out the home, alternatively, they can be arranged by appointment.
So far, so good. Yet while you no doubt spend some time cleaning the property before members of the public come to see if they should purchase it or not, it’s a good idea to prepare for, or rather entirely prevent, house tour embarrassments that you may not have been expecting.
For instance, it might be that you forget to oil the front door, back gate, and garage door. The unholy squeaks and screeching that may come from the hinges, in that case, could give something of a negative impression. This is rather tongue in cheek, but there are other issues worth paying attention to. Without wasting any more time, let us discuss those below:
Pest Control
The last thing you need is troubling pests making themselves known during a house tour. For this reason, effective measures such as termite treatment before you show off the house can be a great means of ensuring that everything you want to show is there, without worrying about little surprises. Of course, this kind of home care can also ensure the space is properly cared for, that your house materials retain their integrity and more. If you curate your house it will seem more impressive during a tour, so there’s no reason to only treat the cosmetic necessities here.
Security Requirements
It’s a good idea to show that your home is safe and secure. For instance, it might be that your back door is relatively old, that your window frames are past their best days, and perhaps your garage door is stuck open which you’ve been meaning to address for a while. It’s a great idea to focus on helping your home seem as secure and safe as possible, even if that means replacing the broken window in the outside barn you don’t use. This way, a family is more likely to see themselves living a happy and safe life there.
Safe Storage
It’s important to make sure your most important personal items are stored safely where snooping viewers cannot find them. This might involve using a self-storage facility for your most valuable items like artwork, jewelry, or other memorabilia you find to be important. This way, you can ensure that your home, while still lived in, can be as neutral as possible for the potential visitors. This will also have the double effect of helping them more easily picture their own belongings there, which can be healthy.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily avoid ‘house tour’ embarrassments when selling your home.