LOVELAND – Selling your home can be stressful, mostly because of the need to keep it in “showing condition”. After all, you still need to live in your home while you’re trying to sell it. There are a few things you can do to make this process a little easier on you and your family. Here are a few tips.
Use baskets to organize messes
Baskets and bins are a great way to quickly get your home organized. In bathrooms, put everything in a bin on the countertop. When it’s time to prepare for showings, you can quickly tuck that bin under the sink! The same goes for toys and other common messes around the house. Gather up the toys in a basket and place it along a wall or in a corner. A big mess can be quickly tucked away. Using baskets prevents the need for sorting through every little thing while still making your home appear neat! It can also add the décor of a home.
Keep cleaning wipes on-hand
Pre-moistened cleaning wipes are popular these days. They are available at most stores and are great for quickly wiping down surfaces throughout your home. Keep cans of these wipes in your kitchens and baths. When it’s time for a showing, grab one to wipe down all of your countertops and you’ll be done in a jiffy.
Go shoeless
Floors tend to be time consuming to clean, especially during the winter months. Save yourself a lot of work by taking your shoes off when you get home. Go barefoot or switch to house slippers. This will save you a ton of time as you preparing for showings over several weeks or months.
Develop a routine
The most stressful part about a short notice showing is remembering everything that you need to do. Create a list and assign tasks to different family members. This will make it much easier and less stressful each time. Here are a few key items to remember:
– Empty dirty dishes from the sink.
– Put away coats and shoes from entry ways.
– Putting everything in assigned baskets in each room, and tucking them away.
– Wipe down countertops in kitchens and baths.
– Empty trash from all rooms, but don’t forget the kitty litter and other pet related items.
By having a system in place to prepare for showings, your home will appear organized and will have a better chance of selling quickly.
Suzanne Plewes is a broker associate at RE/MAX Alliance. Write to 750 W. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, CO 80537, call 970.290.0373 or e-mail [email protected].
By Suzanne Plewes, RE/MAX Alliance
