By far, one of the biggest challenges homeowners have when selling a home in Roseburg is… keeping it show-ready, and last-minute showings can really be a pain! To help ease the pain, I’ve jotted down a few clean-up tips to prepare for spur-of-the-moment showings of your home in Roseburg.
Because the fact is, life happens and you actually live in the home. This means that, as hard as you try, the house might not be in perfect “showable” condition 24-7. It’s great when you have plenty of time to prepare for the showing, but that’s just not the case.
For example, out-of-town buyers often times show up unannounced with very little time to view properties. These buyers make up the bulk of the last-minute showings that we encounter.
Bottom line, you work hard to keep your house show-ready and your agent works hard to line up showings so you don’t want to turn away any buyer… because the next one might just be the right one!
I know it can be hectic and a little stressful, but don’t panic – you can have your home spruced up and ready in time. Just follow these 3 clean-up tips to prepare for a last-minute showing of your Roseburg home.
1. Be Prepared and Have a Cleaning Ritual
Probably the most important tip to prepare for a last-minute showing of your home in Roseburg is just to prepare in advance so you know what to do and how to implement a simple cleaning ritual.
Always start with a thorough decluttering. No buyer has ever walked into a house and said “I love the clutter!” Keeping your home uncluttered and decluttered is step 1. Then move to deep cleaning, and then just maintain what you’ve done. That way, there will be minimal clean-up for a last-minute showing.
You can maintain what you’ve done (the hard work of the deep cleaning) by means of a sustainable cleaning ritual. For example, trying doing the following on a regular basis . . .
- Make all the beds every day when you first get up and open curtains and blinds. Having these things already done will save several minutes if you have to get ready for a showing in a hurry.
- Do a predetermined amount of cleaning daily and weekly and keep a checklist to make sure you’ve done it.
- Clean up and put away things as you cook to keep the mess manageable.
- Clean floors regularly, especially in high-traffic areas.
- Create a cleaning plan and stick to it.
With the deep cleaning already and regular cleaning ritual, clean-up for a last-minute showing will be kept to a minimum.
2. Take Care of the Easy, Obvious Things First
Beyond your regular maintenance cleaning, when you have to prepare for a last-minute showing do the easy and obvious things first – the things that will have the most visual impact and that will require the least amount of time and effort.
Do things like . . .
- Clean high-traffic areas first because they usually get the dirtiest the quickest.
- Take care of kitchen clutter – put dishes in the dishwasher and other items in the back of a cabinet.
- Put any dirty laundry into the washer and/or dryer.
- Open up curtains, drapes, and blinds. A bright home will seem cleaner even if it still needs a little work.
- Make all the beds and put bedroom knick-knacks in a drawer.
- Hang clean towels in the kitchen and bathroom(s).
Everyone understands that you live in the home and there will be evidence of that… but you can do a lot of these quick clean-ups even when under tight time constraints. Make a punch list and go after the things that will have the most impact.
3. Attack the Clean-Up Room by Room
Another valuable tip for clean-up in preparation for a last-minute showing is to attack your quick cleaning using a room-by-room strategy. You probably won’t get overwhelmed if you take care of your cleaning and organizing in manageable chunks.
There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.
Desmond Tutu
Getting your house ready for a last-minute showing can seem daunting, overwhelming, and even impossible, but it can be accomplished easier if you do it gradually by taking on one room at a time. It’s more efficient and less intimidating.
Here’s what you can do . . .
Kitchen
The kitchen is the most important room for buyers, so be sure not to skimp on the kitchen cleaning and tidying. Begin by clearing counters and all other surfaces of dirty dishes and unnecessary items and clean the floors. Hang out special dishtowels that are used only for showings.
Family Room
Make sure everything is put away in its designated space. Arrange pillows and throws on the couch. Give the floor a quick vacuuming and the furniture a quick dusting.
Bedrooms
Again, make sure all beds are made, and that everything is put up where it belongs, especially in the kids’ bedrooms. Give the closets a quick inspection, making sure the floor is visible. (Buyers will look into your closets.)
Bathrooms
Give the bathrooms some special attention because you want potential buyers to be able to imagine themselves using the space. Clean the mirrors, put away all personal items and toiletries, empty trash cans, and wipe down counters. Clean showers and tubs, making sure they are free of hair and soap scum. And, just as with the kitchen, hang special towels up in the bathrooms, bright new towels that are used only for this purpose.
Have A Successful Last Minute Showing
So, yes, you can be ready for a showing at the drop of a hat. Your home may not be perfect, but it will be presentable enough to satisfy even the most discerning buyers. But even more important than having an attractive home is having an experienced Roseburg agent in your corner. A good local agent to conduct the showing will give you the edge that just may result in a sale. And then all that cleaning effort will be worth it. So before it comes down to a last-minute showing of your Roseburg home, be sure to contact us today at 541-643-1131.