Showing Your Overland Park, KS. Home
When you have your Overland Park, KS. home on the market, it needs to be ready to show at all times. Of course you won't have someone showing up at 7:00 a.m. or 10:00 p.m., but during reasonable hours, your Overland Park home could be shown multiple times throughout the day and evening.
Have your Overland Park Realtor put a I-Box outside. This will allow showing agents easy access without bothering you. I-Boxes contain a house key, are completely secure, and only licensed agents will have access.
If you have indoor pets or some other situation where an I-Box wouldn't work, agents can schedule
appointments, which give you advanced notice. Keep in mind that they could call 10 minutes before a
showing, although usually you will get an hour or two notice. Therefore, the best plan of action is to be
prepared at all times. If an agent requests a showing and you refuse, instead of rescheduling, more than likely
the potential buyers will just move on to the next house, meaning you've lost a possible sale. You never know
what showing will turn into a contract.
Showings with 10 minutes notice are often intrepreted by Overland Park home sellers at an inconvenience. The facts are typically they are very serious home buyers. A buyer could be in the area looking at other Overland Park homes and stumbled on your home and something about your home caught the buyers eye. In another situation, a buyer may have found a home in the area and wants to look at all other comparable homes in your Overland Park neighborhood.
Stay Away when Your Overland Park Home is Being Showed
If possible, don't be home when agents show your home. This allows the prospective buyer to look around at
leisure and ask questions without pressure. If you're home, for example, in the middle of cooking dinner, stay
out of the way and don't volunteer any information unless directly asked a question. Otherwise, let the agent
do the talking.
How to Keep Your Overland Park Home Comfortable
If your Overland Park home is being shown in the summer, make sure your home is cool on the inside - just as you would keep it warm in the winter. You want to do everything possible to make your home feel comfortable like a home, which is what appeals to potential Overland Park buyers and leaves a lasting memory.
Decluttering Your Home Will Leave a Lasting Impression
Your Overland Park home doesn't have to look like it was just featured on the cover of Kansas City Homes and Gardens, but do your best to have it clean and tidy. Make sure there are not papers scattered about, the sink is empty of dirty dishes, toys are picked up and put away, furniture and items are dusted, and rugs are vacuumed.
The Right Lighting Will Transform a Home
When you know someone is coming, ensure appropriate lighting. At night, this would include flipping on front
and backyard lights. This provides a cozy feeling and makes your home more inviting. Rooms that are properly lighted will appear bigger and more comfortable to home buyers.
Deferred Maintenance May Cost You
If you notice rooms or areas that need paint touch-up or complete repainting, this is the time to do it. Make
sure there is no torn wallpaper, gouges in the wall, etc. These types of things should all be fixed prior to your
home going on the market. Buyers will often triple the cost for repairs. It is best to have repairs completed prior to showing the first Overland Park home buyers.
Should You use Fragrances?
Try to avoid scented sprays such as room fresheners or carpet deodorizers. Even if you use these products on
a normal basis, to the buyer, it might appear as though you're trying to mask some other type of odor. If you do
want to have a nice fresh fragrance, consider fresh cut flowers, potpourri, or a soft-scented candle. A great
home remedy is to mix one tablespoon of each - nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and pumpkin spice. Pour all into a
small saucepan filled with one cup of water, blend well, and simmer. Another option is to place a couple drops
of vanilla extract directly onto the stove burner and heat quickly. The aroma is wonderful. Either option will give
your home the fragrance of a nice home-cooked meal. Cinnamon, freshly baked goods like bread and cookies provide a great fragrance during the winter. Don't use anything too overpowering; the potential buyers might have allergies.
Visual Affects go a long Way!
Set a bowl of colorful, fresh fruit out on the kitchen table. Drape a soft throw blanket over the back of a recliner,
Kansas City Chiefs fan magazines neatly on the coffee table, or light candles that glow in the bathroom. These charming touches make your home more cozy and inviting. Take a quick look around each room and see if there are things you can do to add a nice, finished touch. If you need more ideas, look through some home decorating magazines for quick tips.
Don't Forget About the Trash
Make sure all trashcans are kept emptied, especially in the kitchen where food items are thrown. Check
bathroom trashcans that might contain personal items. When people look at your Overland Park home, you want to leave a positive impression. Seeing overflowing trash is derogative to a sale.
Don't forget the garage
Make sure you don't forget the garage of your Overland Park home. Keep your tools and storage items neatly arranged. If there are oil stains on the garage floor, use sand and newspaper to wipe it up. This is considered another room of the house and should get the same level of attention.
What to do With Pets?
This can be a little tricky. Make sure your listing mentions that you have pets. First, you don't want your dogs or cats to accidentally escape and second, you want people who might have allergies or are fearful of pets to be aware they're in the home. If possible, remove your pets prior to the showing. If you can't do this, try to put them in a kennel, the backyard, or garage where they will be out of the way.
Blog post written by: Dowell Taggart Team of RE/MAX Best Associates.
YOUR success, health, happiness, and wealth can be attributed to the choices YOU make. Smart web surfers choose www.DowellTaggart.com, intelligent Kansas City home buyers and home sellers choose the Dowell Taggart Team for professional representation, industry leading advice and incredible online marketing. When YOU contact US, YOU work with US, Not a newbie assistant.
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