If you are selling a "For Sale By Owner", or FSBO, home, it might be a good idea to visit a builder's model home. This will give you some good tips on details you can add to your own home. You should note some of the things they do to make the home look inviting and attractive to the buyer. Note how the rooms seem serene, airy and light. You might think this is easier to accomplish in a new home but you can aim for the same effect in your house too. A complication might be your personal taste in d'cor. You might love dark colors and heavy drapes but this might turn off a potential buyer. Here are some tips to help you give your home that model home feel and look.
The first thing you should think about is how to make your home look lighter and more spacious. Open the blinds and drapes and switch on all the lights. Remove family photos from the walls, mantles and shelves, as buyers might be put off by them. You can decorate the walls with a couple of paintings if you like. Fresh flowers and live plants are also a good idea and look appealing on a table or counter but don't get too many because excessive clutter is always best avoided!
It is important to ensure your house smells good. You might want to bake some cookies or bread or boil some cinnamon sticks on the hob, keeping the flame very low. Set out some dishes of potpourri in the bedrooms and bathrooms. Put a new soap out in the bathroom and hang fresh towels. Leave your windows open to air the house before the buyer arrives. If you have pets, make sure their areas are odor free and clean. Try to have your pets away from the home when you are showing it, because some buyers might be allergic to your pets or might be afraid of them.
You should aim for a serene atmosphere, like that of the model house. Children can be another distraction. Time the viewing for when they are at school or leave them with another family member. This might sound extreme but many people are not used to having children around and they can be a distraction, often choosing to ask questions at the wrong time.
Another unwanted distraction is the television or radio. Make sure they are turned off when your buyer visits. If you are using an agent, make sure you are away from the house so the potential buyer can feel free to open cabinets and closets. If you are showing your own house, never apologize for anything. If you apologize about the squeaky hinge on a certain cabinet, they might not have even realized it was squeaky until you said so!
You should only show your home on the weekends and perhaps one other day of the week. If you do this, it is easier to make sure it always looks its best when potential buyers inspect it. Make sure you blank contracts and flyers on hand when you are doing a showing. Another good idea is to have a guestbook on hand for your notes and for their contact information.
