Are you trying to sell your house and have opted for a public showing? Here's a list of things you should do before opening it to the rest of the world.
Your buyers and the bottom line will thank you for your efforts.
DO - Clean the house.
There's absolutely no point in having an open house showing if you're not going to clean it.
Dirty houses do not attract high or fast offers.
They only show that you don't care about the house, so why should they? DO - Make simple repairs.
Anything visibly damaged or broken that can be fixed quickly and easily should be attended to.
Set a budget for these small things, but don't just assume no one will notice or care.
They will.
DO - Stage the house.
If you are overrun with clutter or excess furniture, get rid of it.
Store it out of sight and off the property if necessary.
Some buyers have no talent for visualizing what a house could be if they are bombarded by your junk.
Make it easy for them to envision a classy place to live with a lot less mess.
If your furniture is stained and disgusting then cover it with furniture slipcovers.
DO - Replace broken switch plates and outlet covers.
Make sure they match the color of the room.
Decorative ones are also available, but standard ones are probably a better idea for appealing to the masses.
DO - If there's a yard, clean it up.
Mow it.
Unbury the furniture, cars and junk you have sitting around.
Plant a few flowers, trim the edges and touch up the exterior of the house.
Invest a little money in making it look great because curb appeal is what draws them in.
DO - Invest in some air freshener.
Open the windows if the outdoors smells nice and let that in.
If not then get some pretty smelling glade plugins and help your house smell inviting.
Consider baking cookies or cake and leaving it on the stove for your guests.
Probably a lot won't eat it, but the fresh baked smell will make the house homey.