Tips For A Successful Last-Minute Real Estate Showing
Help! I have a showing in 30 minutes & the place is a wreck!
Everyone who has ever listed their home for sale knows the constant stress of last-minute real estate showings. There is a mix of excitement, stress and dread when you find about a last-minute showing, especially if your home isn’t as clean as it should be. After all, life happens even when our houses are for sale: pets are going to shed, kids are going to leave toys everywhere, beds are going to be unmade.
In this article, I offer a few survival tips that will serve you well, especially if you have a busy life as you try to sell your home.
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Tip #1: Keep storage items in key rooms
I love these items that look like furnishings, but have hidden storage inside. Benches, ottomans, and baskets with lids are a super convenient solution to hiding a mess. Actually, it reminds me of how I used to clean my room as a kid!
If you have certain rooms that are prone to messes, such as kids’ bedrooms, living rooms, or play rooms, keep a storage furnishing accessible. When you have a last-minute showing, just pick up random items from the floor or bed, and close the lid. Problem solved!
Tip #2: Keep surface wipes in kitchens & bathrooms
Ready-to-use surface wipes are a game changer for last-minute showings! When selling my last home, I used granite wipes, stainless steel wipes, and general surface wipes handy in my kitchen & bathrooms for a quick refresh. The result? Surfaces that looked impeccable, and a fresh scent for prospective buyers.
Tip #3: Swiffer disposable floor pads
The Swiffer mop and disposable pads are a convenient and quick way to remove lint, pet hair, and footprints from hard floors. An added bonus? Fresh scent, plus the cleaner dries very rapidly, leaving a newly-cleaned impression.
Tip #4: Laundry basket for pet supplies
Since some prospective buyers are turned off by the presence of a pet in the home, it is a great idea to have a quick way of picking up evidence of your pet. Keep an extra laundry basket that can be used to remove pet bowls, beds and toys. When I was selling, I would simply place the laundry basket into the trunk of my car during the showing.
Tip #5: Dedicated white towels for bathrooms
My final tip is to keep a dedicated set of new white towels for the bathrooms. Keep the new towels under the bathroom sink for quick access. Used bath and hand towels can be tossed into the washing machine. Place the dedicated towels on towel racks, giving the bathrooms a clean, fresh appearance that buyers will appreciate.
These survival tips will make your life easier as you list your home for sale. Having a quick preparation plan for last-minute showings will also ensure that your home looks as appealing as possible when prospective buyers arrive for what will be an amazing showing!
Hillary McAlhany is the owner and Senior Creative Consultant of Gate City Design. She is a certified professional home stager/redesigner, E-designer & color expert. Although she is based in North Carolina, she offers remote design services outside of the central North Carolina region.
