If you’re planning to sell your home in Oklahoma City, Moore, Yukon, Edmond or any of the surrounding areas, prepping for showings is a critical step.
We have 7 essential tips to help you prepare for a successful showing in Oklahoma City. Because making a good first impression is important and can set your home apart.
Tip #1: Leave 15 Minutes Before the Showing Starts
While a showing may be scheduled for a certain time, it’s not uncommon for the buyers or their agent to show up a few minutes early. Leaving about 15 minutes before they are scheduled to arrive will ensure that if they are early you aren’t rushing to get out of the house.
“It’s so important not to be in your house for showings,” said Becky Seda, lead agent for Seda Real Estate Group. “People don’t feel at ease, they feel like they’re being babysat, and that’s not the feeling we want them to have when they are trying to envision themselves living there.”
Tip #2: Be Mindful of Smells
Your family may love roasted brussel sprouts or broccoli. Maybe fish is a weekly meal. However, foods with bold aromas like those could leave your buyers ready to exit rather than enjoy your home.
We also recommend avoiding lots of candles or strong smelling plug-in scents or cleaners.
“I really like a good neutral scent,” said Seda. “Keeping your home clean—take out the trash regularly, make sure the dog beds are clean, etc.— does wonders.”
A pot of stew or recently baked cookies generally do leave amazing smells behind (though probably not good to mix those smells together). However, it’s not necessary for you to make stew or cookies every day.
Tip #3: Keep Safety in Mind
Before your home showing in OKC, it’s good to remove or secure a few things. While buyers are generally escorted by an agent, it’s impossible for them to keep an eye on multiple family members at once. Securing any weapons, taking prescription medications, and valuable jewelry with you is always a good idea.
“Protect yourself, take those firearms, medications, and any valuables with you,” said Seda.
And, don’t forget to make sure your agent has the code to your home’s security system. If you aren’t comfortable leaving the alarm unarmend, then the agent will need the code. It can be quite unnerving for a potential buyer to set off the alarm and not have a way to turn it off.
Tip #4: Make a Plan For Your Pets
It can be scary for your pets to have strangers coming into their space. Likewise, it can be scary for a buyer to encounter an unknown animal.
When possible, take your pets with you. If that’s not possible, keep them contained.
“It’s really hard for an agent who may be showing your house to have to worry about an animal getting out when they open doors,” said Seda.
Dealing with a nervous animal that is barking or crying could also make a potential buyer uneasy, and may make them feel rushed to get out of the house.
Tip #5: Climate Control
It’s especially important during Oklahoma’s hot summer months, or coldest winter months, to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.
If you have already moved out of the home you are selling, it may make sense to leave the thermostat a little higher, to reduce your bills. However, if a buyer comes in and the home is especially hot (in the summer) or cold (in the winter) they may assume that the HVAC system is not working properly. You want your potential buyers to feel comfortable during their time in your home.
One option is to have your agent adjust the thermostat a few hours ahead of the showing and then again after a showing. Or, if you are able to remotely control the thermostat then you could handle those adjustments yourself.
Tip #6: Keep a Neutral Environment
You want your home to appeal to a wide range of buyers, which means it’s best to remove anything that may be overly political or religious. Those types of items can spark negative thoughts about who you are in a potential buyer’s mind. Unfortunately, in some cases, that has caused buyers to look elsewhere.
Neutral, tasteful decor can help buyers imagine themselves in your home.
Tip # 7: Be Flexible
The more flexible you are, the more likely you are to have successful showings.
“Having your home on the market is inconvenient. It just is,” said Seda. “However, you do need to allow buyers to come see your house.”
Your agent can set it where showings need advanced notice by hours or even by certain days. If you have an event, such as a birthday party or baby shower, happening your agent can ensure that no showings are scheduled during that time. Communication with your agent is key.
Bonus Tip
Now, for a bonus tip! While it’s not necessary to provide anything for the potential buyer, having a few bottles of water, some simple snacks, like granola bars, on the kitchen counter, and even playing some soft music are nice ways to welcome them into your home. Sometimes a buyer may be out looking at multiple homes in a day, which means they may be tired, hungry or thirsty. A simple treat left out could help them to remember and build a good impression of your home.
With a little preparation and the right local expertise, you can make your home shine during showings.
If you’re thinking about listing your home in Oklahoma City, let’s talk! At Seda Real Estate Group, our team can help guide you every step of the way—from prepping for showings to closing the deal. Give us a call at 405-400-9973 to find out how we can help you!