Top Ten Home Showing Tips

For sellers, making your home available for showings is essential to getting it sold. After all, who would purchase a property sight unseen? When a potential buyer stops in, here are ten recommended tips to follow when showing your home:

Tip # 1: Welcome Your Buyers It is a good idea if you leave the home for a short time to allow the buyer to look without feeling restricted by your presence. A potential buyer is less likely to voice any concerns in front of the current owner, which is why it’s better to leave your buyers with the REALTOR®. Typically 30-45 minutes allow plenty of time for your potential buyer to do a thorough tour with feeling rushed. Baking some cookies or bread before you head out will leave your home smelling delicious and inviting.

Tip # 2: Be Flexible Many home buyers are on a tight schedule, whether it be work, school or other commitments. Time is tough to come by, so try to be flexible about allowing potential buyers to tour your home. If you are still living on the premises, it’s especially important that you be ready for last-minute visits.

Tip # 3: Climate Control When a buyer comes into your home, they do not want to feel cold in the winter or overly stuffy in the summer. If you know that your REALTOR® is bringing a potential buyer to tour the home, make sure that the temperature is comfortable. Otherwise, your buyer may not spend as much time in the home as necessary in order to form an accurate opinion. The last thing you want is a buyer who’s in a hurry to leave.

Tip # 4: Quick Cleaning If you have enough time before the buyer shows up, run the vacuum over the floors and make sure that any clutter is cleaned up. A clean home appears larger, while a cluttered one gives the appearance of being too small. If you really want to impress your potential buyers, place that plate of freshly baked cookies on the dining room table.

Tip # 5: Animal Control If you have pets, remove them from the home temporarily or place them in a contained space, such as a kennel, exercise pen or carrier. This will allow buyers to tour the home without being distracted by a nervous animal which could result in a nervous buyer.

Tip # 6: Light The Way Your home should appear open and bright, even if it’s a winter day, so open the curtains and turn on the lights throughout the home. Buyers will not likely be drawn to a dark, dimly-lit house.

Tip # 7: Educate Your Buyers When someone is looking for a home, they are looking for more than the perfect floor plan. If you have recently had the home appraised or inspected, place copies of each report on the dining room table. Purchasing a home is a big step, and buyers will be drawn to a home that has everything out on the table, so to speak.

Tip # 8: Communicate With Your REALTOR® If you want certain aspects to be pointed out during the home tour, tell your REALTOR® what they are. For instance, good neighbors are a big plus to any home, but it’s not something that potential home buyers will see simply by looking at the rooms in your house. If you have wonderful neighbors, ask your REALTOR® to point this out. If you live in a family-oriented neighborhood, let it be known.

Tip # 9: Curb Appeal An important part of showing your home is making sure that the outside looks just as appealing as the inside. When a potential buyer drives up, you want them to be eager to see what else is in store for them. You can do this by paying close attention to your curb appeal. In addition to having a freshly cut lawn and properly maintained flower beds (if applicable), the outside of your home should be free of any clutter and any shrubs should be groomed.

Tip # 10: Be Open To Feedback Once the potential buyer has completed their tour, your REALTOR® will ask them (or their agent for some feedback to share back with you. Though it may be difficult to hear feedback that isn't completely positive, it will help with further showings and keep you on top of buyers' concerns as they compare your home to others. the feedback may pertain to pricing, features, and/or condition.

Your REALTOR® can also offer suggestions on how to put your home in top showing form and find your buyer as quickly as possible!

Have more tips? As always, I look forward to your thoughts!

Be well,
Rhonda

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Give Your Front Porch A Style Makeover!

Whether you are looking to sell your home or just think it’s time for a new look to improve your curb appeal, giving your front porch a makeover is an easy and inexpensive way to give your home’s exterior a fresh look. Here are a few simple ways to spruce up your front porch without taking a bite out of your wallet! 

Dress Up That Concrete Porch 

If your home has a simple concrete porch, there are a number of great ways to give it a more refined appearance that won’t involve replacing it. One option is using concrete paint. Available in many colors and textures, you can create the look of a more expensive stone porch at a fraction of the cost of replacing it. 

Plants And Flowers 

Adding plants and flowers to your front porch is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to add curb appeal to the exterior of your home. Choose plants that are appropriate to the light for your porch, and also choose plants in colors that complement the other colors in the exterior of your home. Select pots that accent the space, and consider quality hanging plants to add interest to windows. 

Final Touches 

One of the easiest ways to dress up your new porch is to choose interesting and complementary final touches. A new mailbox, a handmade or antique-looking street number sign, and a nice welcome mat can all make the space look more homey and finished. If you have the space, also consider adding a few chairs and a small table, or add the nostalgia of a porch swing. 

Creating curb appeal is of vital importance to making your home more appealing to potential buyers, and even if you are not selling your home, it is an easy way to give your home’s exterior a makeover without spending a fortune. And with spring just around the corner, it's the perfect time to spruce up your porch, grab a glass of lemonade, and take a time out from your busy day! 

As always, I welcome your thoughts! 

Be well,

Rhonda

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Decorating With Plants

When choosing a style of furnishing, color scheme, or fabrics for your new home, or when redecorating a room, plants often do not immediately spring to mind when considering what you need to complete your space. Plants can be, however, an inexpensive and beautiful addition to any room, and there are a great number of options that can complement and even inspire any décor. 

Choosing Plants 

Leaf Shape: There is a huge variety of leaf shapes to choose from when considering which plants are right for your room. Broad leaves look great on mantles or as part of larger arrangements, and long leaves can draw the eye up to interesting architectural features. 

Leaf Texture: From spiky to glossy or fuzzy, you can get really creative when selecting a plant that has a texture that matches your space. A prickly cactus would really accent a room that has a southwestern themed décor, or the fuzzy texture of a dusty miller looks great in an entirely white room or as part of a holiday arrangement. 

Color: With plants and flowers available in virtually every color imaginable, this is one area where using plants as inspiration for your wall color or accent colors can truly create a space inspired by nature. 

Matching Plants To Your Space 

What Kind Of Light Does The Room Get? While the size, texture, and color of your selected plant may determine whether it will fit into your décor, taking care that it will get suitable light and is placed in the correct spot will ensure that it will remain a vibrant and lasting part of your space. For those of us who do not have a green thumb (present company included!), silk plants have come a long way and often it's difficult to tell that they are not real.  I've been in quite a few showings where I've had to get close and personal to check whether it was real or artificial. 

Size Of The Space: Whether it is a large open-concept home or a cozy bachelor apartment, choosing plants that fit with the size of the room they will call home can make or break the success of any space. For large rooms consider using an arrangement of plants, or include large indoor trees. In smaller spaces a few well-placed plants with interesting colors or textures can really add interest to your space without overwhelming it.

Pets: Just remember when choosing plants that there are many species that are toxic to pets. Here is a handy guide from the ASPCA to help steer you in the right direction to keep your pets safe from ingesting poisonous plants. 

Plant Care: There are some innovative products available to assist in the care of your houseplants. Check out these 9  handy tools to make caring for you plants super easy! 

Whether you are choosing plants that match your décor or using them as inspiration to reinvent your space, plants can be a beautiful, cheerful, and inexpensive addition to any home. 

So what is your favorite way to use houseplants to embellish your home? 

As always, I welcome your thoughts! 

Be well,

Rhonda

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Unclutter Your Home In Ten Easy Steps!

Clutter, which is defined as things that lie about untidily (I love that definition!), is often linked to creativity. However, Let's face it. Sometimes clutter can easily take over our homes. So, just how much imagination will it take to tidy up your space? To be exact, you can make it happen in ten easy steps.

Step # 1: Set A Schedule 
You are much more likely to stick to a routine, whatever it may be, if you work on a schedule. In addition, this allows you to clean when you can minimize interruptions and maximize your time. Try scheduling one hour a week to tackle on area of your home. You will be amazed how much you can accomplish in that short time frame.

Step # 2: Set A Goal For Each Room 
If you can visualize what you want, you will be better able to achieve it. By setting goals for each room, you can note the things that need changing and work toward that goal one day at a time. It's also a good idea to only tackle on room at a time. If you are working on the clutter in your bedroom today, don't worry about the clutter in the kitchen. Leave that for another day.

Step # 3: Create A Timeline 
When do you hope to have your home completely free of clutter? One week, two weeks or even a month? Depending on your schedule and the amount of clutter that you have, it may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks before you can kick back and relax again.

Step # 4: Start Small 
The clutter in your home didn’t appear overnight, and it won’t disappear overnight either. If you start small, you will be less likely to get frustrated and give up midway through your cleanup.

Step # 5: Categorize Your Clutter
When cleaning, it’s important to categorize your items into groups. By separating the items that you want to keep, toss and donate, you will be able to move through your clutter quickly and efficiently. 

Step # 6: Letting Go
This is a tough one, I know! A good rule of thumb for uncluttering your home is to get rid of anything that you haven’t used within the past year. If it’s still useful, consider donating it to a good cause. Otherwise, toss it. There, I said it!

Step # 7: Storing Your Seasonal Apparel 
When storing seasonal clothing, purchase a sturdy plastic storage bin with a lid and roll your clothes instead of folding them in an effort to maximize storage capability. When full, snap the lid on and slide the unit into your closet.

Step # 8: Closet Organization 
Did you know that your choice of clothes hangers can greatly impact the storage capacity of your closet? Wire hangers take up less space and can save your shirts from getting that annoying shoulder bump that often arises from the use of plastic hangers. There are many space-saving closet products out there to help if you have minimal closet space to work with.

Step # 9: Shoes Blues 
When it comes to storing shoes, many homeowners are fighting a losing battle with clutter. How many pairs of shoes do you own? How neatly are they stored? If your shoe storage has you down, try purchasing clear lidded shoe boxes. These handy creations can house each pair of shoes and can be stacked neatly in your closet. And best of all, you can see your shoe collection without having to sift through a sea of sandals.

Step # 10: Read The Labels 
If you have medicine, food or anything else with an expiration date in the home, check to make sure that the items are still good. If the expiration date has already come and gone, throw them away.

It may seem like a daunting task, I know.  Even getting through one area of your home will breathe new life into your space and will give you the motivation to tackle the next project. In the end, you will feel lighter, brighter, and more at peace. And I guarantee you will all of sudden look around and remember all the things you love about your home!  What are your favorite de-cluttering ideas?

As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
Be well,
Rhonda

photo credit: www.aadesignbuild.com, A&A Design Build Remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling, Germantown, Potomac, Rockville, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Washington DC, Interior Design, Aging in Place via photopin (license)

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