Tips to consider when planning to show your home and make the best impression

This is it. You've been marketing your home, the price is right, the prospects have been calling and you are getting some enthusiastic responses. And the most crucial reaction of all during these initial phases...prospects are now coming to see your home. It's now time to take your marketing to the next level: the showing. Have you prepared for this? Have you inspected, checked and cleaned your house thoroughly? Have you made sure everything is in place? Showings are, after all, the first, and potentially only, chance to impress the prospect into making an offer.

Showing your house to home buyers does not need to be a difficult task. As with every other step in the FSBO process with planning and due consideration of the elements this can be done effectively, and can be one of the easier phases. The showing is a good opportunity to get personal with homebuyers and show them a home for their family. Some people do this by paying special attention to personal items, however we are not so sure that is a good idea, it can come across as somewhat pointless, and of course you don't want to create the impression that such items will stay with the house.

There are a couple of very basic things you can do to make your house look more attractive. First, make sure the house is well aired and lit. Open windows before the showing if possible, and turn on lights in darker rooms BEFORE the prospect arrives. Open curtains also. Some homeowners bake cookies before a showing. The smell of freshly baked cookies is associated with a "family home." If that is not your cup of tea be sure to use an air freshener (but not one that leaves a strong smell) to keep everything smelling fresh. The kitchen and the bathroom are probably the most important areas to pay attention to. Ensure they are clean and tidy, and the dishes from last night's dinner have been put in their proper place.

And whatever you do, make sure pets are not around. Your house may be clean and tidy, but if prospects see your cat or dog they will have a lingering suspicion about what that animal may have left on the carpet somewhere.