Prepare the housing for visits to interested parties
Once we have decided to sell and we have have carried out a valuation of the property at market price, we have to to be fitted out for visitors. There is only one first impression and is decisive and there is no possibility of achieving it other than on the first visit. Prepare the home for each visit and for a photographic report is a must. How should we do it?
Preliminary preparations
1. Let’s start simple; let’s depersonalize it.
Remove excess and unwanted objects and those that are too personal (family photos, souvenirs, handicrafts, objects, etc.). religious, those having to do with politics or sports teams). Empty shelves, tables and chests of drawers of these objects that often take up everything. Get rid of old items, such as that armchair you love so much. put fresh flowers, light-colored sheets, opens shutters, and in short, prepares your home for its new owners.
2. CLEANING
An effective and low-cost task.
Down to the last corner of the house. Behind the refrigerator, windows, rails of the windows, extractor hood, floor seals, tiles, oven… Everything. impeccable!
Care and cleanliness must be perceived from the very beginning. the entrance to the building or house: everything must be impeccable. If there is a garden, should be neat, the terrace tidy, the mailbox shiny and free of mail or advertising standing out. The door and the doormat clean, the doorbell and the telephone in perfect working order.
3. GENERAL TUNING
Make sure everything works; faucets, blinds, switches… Everything! Fix walls and floors if appropriate.
4. IMPROVE
With little investment, you can make great improvements to the image of your property. Don’t worry about giving it a coat of paint, that little investment can be the difference between the perception of a new floor to an old one. Do it in light tones, provide luminosity and perception of space.
Change old elements such as sconces and knobs, taps… They take away category to your home. Waxing floors is also an important economical way to improve the visual.
5. ILLUMINA
Make sure that all switches and bulbs work. Use bulbs that provide the right intensity and tone to each room. Add, if necessary, lamps in specific areas of the housing.
6. VENTILATION
Something simple but fundamental.
Prior to a visit, the building must have been ventilated for a period of one year. minimum of 15 minutes. If it is summer and there is air conditioning, turn it on halfway. hour before the visit, and in winter the same should be done with the heating. The objective is to make the potential buyer find it with a very pleasant temperature.
The first impression when entering the house must be pleasant and homely, a good air freshener, preparation moments before the visit of coffee or a sponge cake in the oven are usually good solutions to achieve this effect.
7. RECEIVER
The first image inside the house. The entrance must be clear, without coats. hanging or shoes in sight.
8. LOUNGE
Let’s give it the maximum amplitude, clear all the possible (toys, blankets, clothes…), try to keep the minimum number of items possible (toys, blankets, clothes…), try to keep the number of items as small as possible. furniture, the curtains should preferably be clear and transparent, that let in natural light. Everything should be tidy and with few items on furniture, without excessive pictures on the walls and as impersonal as possible. (remove photographs, religious objects, or anything related to soccer or political).
If the sofa is old, it should be covered with covers. new in a neutral color
Play with lighting to create ambience warm, turn on the halogen lamps and try to put some lamps to create a warm atmosphere. different environments.
9. BEDROOMS
In the rooms, the furniture and remove as many objects as possible. Many times we advise you to keep them in boxes and store them in the storage rooms, at least during the visits. Beds always well made, again the importance of quilts or bedspreads. quilts in light and neutral colors, accompanied by cushions, pictures and discrete lamps. We must remove all personal items (toys, posters, photographs…), curtains that allow the light to pass through and in light and neutral colors. Closets must be perfectly organized, folded clothes, shoes collected in boxes and out-of-season clothing stored and prepared for the move.
10. KITCHEN
The kitchen must be absolutely impeccable. The dishes are washed and collected, the cloths are clean, the countertop with no objects or appliances except for some detail or plant, the The feeling has to be like the kitchens in magazines. Removes soaps, sponges, blenders, paper and fridge magnets, and all items that can be used in the you have on the marble.
It is very important that it is well illuminated. to pay close attention to light bulbs, fluorescent bulbs and portholes and that they do not If none of them are fused, these small details often make all the difference.
11. BATHROOMS
Bathrooms should be shine, as if they were new. Towels neatly folded and making and with the tiles. The shiny mirror and lighting abundant, in this room it is essential that it smells of sea breeze or flowers. fresh flowers (can be achieved with air fresheners or a bouquet of flowers) natural).
Eliminate all the elements of the sink cabinet, especially the excess of bottles of soaps, creams, toothbrushes, blades, etc…
It is not superfluous to introduce details in some corner, such as the bathtub, some candles or a plant to provide warmth and a sense of cozy to the stay.
12. OUTDOOR AREAS
Terraces and gardens should be neat and tidy. We must not forget that it is a very attractive attraction point. important. It is advisable to eliminate junk and recreate some environment, the circulation must be easy and fluid (beware of excess chairs or furniture). garden). Prepare the table with plates and glasses and some floral detail, will contribute to achieve the desired effect.
13. MASCOTAS
A visit is the ideal time to take a walk to our pets, they should NEVER be present during visits (phobias, allergies,…), and since we are going out, the garbage must also be removed before the arrival of customers, even if they do not have to have a full bag. Let’s always remember the importance of smells, many of which are sometimes it is easy to fall into the mistake of ignoring our olfactory capacity and influences our perceptions a lot.
And during the visits, what do we do?
- Plan visits. Always require that visits be by appointment. The house has to be ready, and so do you.
- Trust the real estate professional. Our recommendation is to let the agent attend the visit himself. The fewer people present the better, so the customer will feel free to look around and have their say. If it is possible to leave the keys with the agent and not be present during the visit.
- Peace of mind. When the agent is showing your home, turn down the volume or turn off radios and televisions.
- Pets. We already know that you can’t live without your pet, but for this occasion try not to have it inside the house when you show it to a potential client.
- Stay out of it. If you want to be present during the visit, it is better to do it as a simple spectator. The sales agent knows what the client is looking for and will highlight the best qualities of your home. Do not follow the retinue from behind. Be polite and friendly, but don’t try to force a conversation with customers. In case of questions or doubts, the commercial agent will ask you for the information.
- Adjust the terms of the negotiation. The seller will be the one to discuss price, terms and other factors with the customer. Beforehand, make sure you are clear about the negotiation margins so that neither the agent nor you have any surprises or misunderstandings. In any case it is better if you are not present.
Credit: 1001 Portales and Inmobling
