Give potential homebuyers many reasons to say yes to your home while keeping your valuables safe.

When potential homebuyers visit your home, your home’s presentation needs to give them many reasons to say yes. Here are seven tips to help make your home appeal to buyers and how to keep your valuables safe during showings.

Enhance curb appeal

Buyers start judging a home from the moment they drive up. Keep the lawn trimmed, leaves raked and windows clean. Cut back overgrown bushes and remove damaged tree limbs. 

If the front door looks tired, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint. Also, consider new door hardware to update your home’s first impression.

Look at the condition of your garage door; could it use a fresh paint job?

Evaluate how your driveway might look to a potential buyer. Could it benefit from a high-pressure wash? If there are cracks, are there weeds that need to be pulled?

Declutter everywhere

Clutter-free counters and tabletops help make rooms feel more spacious. As you declutter, avoid the temptation to stuff everything into the closets. When potential buyers look in closets you want them to feel like your home has lots of storage.

If you have items you can’t part with, pack them in boxes or storage totes that can be neatly stacked in the basement or garage. If you have so many boxes that it makes it hard to walk around them or see around them, consider moving the boxes to a storage facility.

As you declutter, be sure to remove personal items. A “clean slate” will make it easier for buyers to imagine their own things in the house. Photos, the kids’ artwork and political items should be out of sight when potential buyers come in. Also, the more you declutter, the easier cleaning will be.

Deep clean

No homebuyer has ever said, “that house was too clean!” When it comes to preparing your home for showings, spend time deep cleaning each room.

Focus on the places that often get overlooked during regular household cleaning. Start at the top of the house, and the top of each room. Clear dust from the corners of ceilings and walls, on ceiling fan blades, on top of window and door frames, on blind slats and along baseboards.

When vacuuming around furniture that’s too large to move, use vacuum attachments that reach behind and under the pieces.

In kitchens and bathrooms, make sure grout is clean and faucets and spouts are free of gunk.

Just before showings, empty trash cans.

Keep valuables secure

Consider using a locking file cabinet to secure electronic devices, jewelry, prescriptions, cash and financial documents. Firearms should be properly stowed and locked. Make sure valuables are secured before each showing.

Turn on lights and keep the temperature comfortable

Open blinds and curtains but do not rely on natural light alone—especially during the shorter days of autumn and winter. Turn on interior lights to ensure your home looks bright.

Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature so potential buyers don’t feel too hot or too cold.

Remove signs of pets

Even homebuyers who are pet lovers will not be thrilled to see pet hair or detect animal smells. A professional home cleaning is great first step in removing signs of pets.

Repair anything that shows signs of pet damage, such as marred wood trim or stained carpet.

Before showings, stash all pet-related items—food and water bowls, toys, litter boxes and the like.

During showings, remove pets from the home. Options include taking them with you, asking a neighbor to take the pets during a showing or boarding the animals on days you have showings.

If pets can’t be removed for showings, place them in crates or carriers. Warn the agent showing the house that pets are in the home and leave a note on the crates asking folks not to disturb the animals.

Leave during the showing

Some home sellers feel like they can point out the home’s highlights. While you may know your home best, a knowledgeable real estate agent showing the house knows the buyer best. Trust the agent to do their job.

You want potential homebuyers to feel as comfortable as possible as they view your home. When you and all family members leave during a showing, buyers can better focus on how the home fits their needs and wants.

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