Check out the latest updates to www.StagingInaBox.com They are now offering virtual home staging. That means you can send photos of your house to their professional home stagers and get insight via email!!! This is a new novel concept in trying to help home sellers sell their homes more quickly with cost saving tips from a professional! Great for the do-it-yourselfer who just needs a little direction. Check it out!

Sellers Showing Checklist:

Prior to showing your house to prospective buyers or Realtors, take these few easy steps to ensure success!(Selling a house is hard work and part of the responsibility for it selling for a good price is on the occupant!)

• Clean the whole house - like your mother is coming over!
  
• Hide clutter - or remove it from the premises, a storage unit can be very helpful while your house is on the market.
  
• Take down all or most personal photos (people want to be able to see themselves in your home, not you!)
  
• Do the dishes! The kitchen is one of the best selling points, nothing makes it look or smell worse than dirty dishes. Put a fresh squeeze of lemon down the disposal.
  
• Boil a pot of water with cinnamon sticks (don't burn!) an hour before the showing. Make sure to turn off and discard before buyers arrive.
  
• Remove EVERYTHING from your bathroom counter, except maybe a single candle or soap.
  
• Take all magnets and personal effects off your refrigerator.
  
• Turn on soft music.
  
• Turn on all or almost all of the lights.
  
• Open the curtains to let in light (as long as you have a clean view).
  
• Vacuum with a fresh vacuum bag.
  
• Tidy up closets (buyers will look in them!)
  
• Empty trash cans!
  
• If weather permits, leave a window open to let in fresh air.
  
• If you have pets, arrange for them to be away from the house or contained during the showing. Also be extra conscious of the pet odors in your house while it is on the market, many buyers are sensitive to pet smells and allergies.
  
• If you smoke, remove all evidence of ash trays and cigarette butts.
  
• Close ALL toilets seats and lids
  
• House plants are great, as long as they are watered and groomed. If they are dead or dying get them out of the house. No plants are better than dead ones.
  
• Have a trusted friend or Realtor tell you their first impression of the smell of your house when they walk in the door, if it's not a good one, clean and ventilate until it improves!
  
• Make a list of your TOP 10 favorite things about your house that may not be obvious to Buyers and Realtors. Give it to your agent to share in the listing (for example: Huge pantry, built-in laundry hamper, extra deep garage, RV parking, custom cabinets, surround sound, etc.)

This is a regularly updated list, so check back for updates!

©2008 www.lightbrightandairy.com

Maiden voyage

This is my first try at blogging! To view things that I have already shared with the big www, please view my website at www.LightBrightandAiry.com I am hoping the blogspot will help to educate the public about the secrets of selling your house in a down market! If this all works properly I will be back to add some more views about home staging, marketing and preparing houses for the real estate market! Happy Real Estate Selling!