Fran Donohue

^{by Stephen Saint Onge}

So the day has come to show your house to perspective buyers. The REALTOR^® has called and said the showing is in a few hours. You want to make sure your home is ready to get the best price from that perfect buyer.

Panic may set in for a moment, but you take a deep breath and realize you are prepared because you planned ahead and got yourself organized beforehand. So now all you have to do is run around and get your short list done.

Before you can reach your short list mode, ensure you have tackled the bigger things like making sure your home environment is properly staged for the showing: the seating arrangement in the living room  should be open and clutter-free; the kitchen and closets are well-organized; the necessary updates and touchups, such as painting, are complete. Now comes the task of maintaining that setting and running the house in an efficient way to allow that organized life to remain.

The below checklist has helped me, in the past, get my house ready to list on the market.

The Home Staging Check List (Weekly Plan)

Outside The House

Once your house is listed on the market, always remember potential buyers may drive by at any time to see if they want to schedule a showing. Ensure they follow through making that appointment by keeping up with your property's maintenance:

• Grass is cut and weeds are removed.
• Leaves and driveway are clear.
• Front steps and doorway are cleaned up. Plus, clean off any outdoor porch or yard furniture.
• Potted flowers and plants look fresh and well-cared.
• Kids toys are kept in a storage area or in an organized way not all over the lawn.
• Clean up after your pets outside.
• If you can, keep the garage door closed.

Remember, you’ll be having potential buyers driving by your house to see if they want to arrange to see the inside. So always think about the fact that your home is being seen once it goes on the market.

Inside The House 

To ensure you are ready when your REALTOR(R) calls with a last minute showing, continually maintain organization inside the house:

• Vacuum the main areas weekly.
• Clean out the fridge.
• Do the laundry to avoid large piles.
• Do a big clean in each bathroom.
• Get the kids to keep their toys organized. Get bins or baskets to make it easy…turn on some music to make clean up time a fun adventure with a purpose.
• File, purge or store mail in one place, out of site, for easy access.
• Check windows and glass doors for fingerprints.
• Buy some fruit (green apples, lemons or oranges) for props in your kitchen.
• Buy coffee to have coffee brewing in your house.
• Have ready-to-bake cookies on hand. Baking cookies before a showing does say “home” to many people.
• Have some fresh flowers on hand. A simple arrangement in your foyer or dining table is a nice touch.
• Put away unnecessary items that are out in the open.. Stay ahead of the game by staying on top of this.

Day of Showing

Once you get the call from your REALTOR(R) that prospective buyers are coming to take a look:

• Gather up the pets and put them in their crate in the yard or put them in the car crate. With them out of the way, you can move faster.
• Allow your children to take part in getting the house ready for the showing.Maybe each are responsible for straightening up their rooms or toys. Once done – they go outside in the backyard until it’s time to go or, if older, give them the job of turning on all the lamps and lights in the house for the showing.Check all the beds. They don’t have to look perfect – but clean and neat.
• Hit the start button on the coffee maker.
• If you have time to throw a batch of ready-to-bake cookies in the oven…even better!
• A treat for the kids for their fast moves and help after you come back home!
• Make sure kitchen and bathroom surfaces are cleared off and clean.
• Put dishes away or in the dishwasher
• Turn on some music softly playing in the living room or family room.
• Make sure throw pillows look nice on the sofas.
• Check coffee table or other table surfaces – how does your decor look? Adjust them, if necessary.
• Depending on season, you could have a fire going in the fireplace to really say “welcome”. If not, you could light a nice smelling candle in the foyer – nothing too sweet or overpowering.
• If it is nice out and you can open windows – do so.
• As you leave the house, make sure the front yard looks good – toys put away, nothing on walkway and get everyone into the car.

With these simple steps you can stage your home and have it ready to show to prospective buyers, and sell your home quickly and for the best price when the right buyer walks in.