Prepare Your Home For Showing
Author - Bruce Schoenne - Real Estate Appraiser in British Columbia, Canada

First impressions are very important and you typically don't get a second chance to make a good first impression, so a small investment in time and money can give your house the advantage over competing homes in your neighborhood when it come time to show your home.

Here are some suggestions for preparing your home for showings.

	Repair leaky taps and toilets.		Keep lawns cut.
	Clean furnace and humidifier.		Trim hedges and shrubs.
	Tighten door knobs and cupboard latches.		Edge and weed gardens.
	Repair cracked plaster.		Pick up litter.
	Touch up chipped paint.		Clean drive and walkways.
	Clean and repair windows.		Repair soffits and eavestroughs.
	Repair seals around tub and basin.		Clean out garage.
	Replace burned out light bulbs.		Touch up paint.
	Oil squeaking doors.

	Clean and freshen bathrooms.		Clean and tidy porch and foyer.
	Clean fridge and stove.		Does the doorbell work?
	Clean the exterior of the furnace.		Is the air fresh?
	Clean washer, dryer and laundry tubs.		Check the hardware around the front door.

	Keep hallways and stairs free of clutter.		When you house is being shown..leave.
	Store extra furniture.		Turn on all the lights.
	Clear kitchen and bathroom counters.		In winter, turn heat on and in summer, turn on air-conditioning.
	Make closets neat and tidy.		Light fireplace.
			Open drapes in the daytime.
			Play background music.