How to Prepare Your Home for an Open House

If you’re trying to sell your house, you know the importance of having it stand out among all the rest, and in purely positive fashion. In today’s market, buyers have a plethora of houses to choose from. And in many cases it’s those little finishing touches that can make the difference between a quick browse and a dream offer.

So here are 6 easy and inexpensive home showing and staging tips to give your house that wow factor – so you can can move on to the next exciting stage of your life with greater ease and, hopefully, some extra money in your pocket.

1. Let the light in. Clean your windows so they sparkle. They’ll look nicer and let more light in that way. Pull the blinds all the way up, and pack up the drapes. If you have sheers, you can leave those up. The point is to keep windows simple and clean.

2. Whiten up the bathroom. Ever wonder why hotels only use white items in their bathrooms? Because it makes them look clean and fresh. Even if you don’t have the budget to update the vanity or floor, purchase a few white accessories like a shower curtain, soap dish, plus bath and hand towels.

3. Update kitchen fixtures. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to give your kitchen a little facelift. Relatively inexpensive updates include replacing dated light fixtures, faucets, drawer pulls, and cabinet knobs.

4. Turn on the lights. Whether you’re having an open house or a private showing, turn on every lamp and overhead light in the house. Remember, you’re showcasing the house, not creating atmosphere. Place floor lamps in especially dark corners of a room, and swap out tired lamp shade for new and white replacements.

5. Swap out wall art and pictures for mirrors. Remember that not everyone has the same taste in art as you do, so unless yours has mass appeal, it’s best to take it down. Additionally, while you undoubtedly love your family photos, you want buyers to imagine themselves and their family in your house. Mirrors are a great alternative that maximize light and make rooms feel bigger.

6. Roll up the area rugs. Even the slightest sign of wear or stain can turn off a buyer. So unless your rugs are in great shape or are covering up floors that are a mess, put the area rugs away.

No matter what stage of selling your home you might be in, it’s important to have your plumbing inspected, too, and to take care of repair issues now before an independent home inspector uncovers them later on. At Your 1 Plumber, we’ll recommend exactly what needs to be done – without breaking the bank – to help your home pass inspection with flying colors and remove one or more obstacles from the selling process. Contact us today for a complete home plumbing inspection – we’re ready to lend a helping hand.