When you open your home up for showing, you want to some how give the buyer an idea of the lifestyle that your home can provide  If you can engage the buyer visually and emotionally you have a chance to keep the buyer in the home longer.  You want the buyer to say "I really like this house" and "Yes, I want to buy this home," Here are tips for showing your home that engages all of the senses.

Make your home easy to view

• Keep your home accessible and ready for frequent showings
• Try to never say NO to a showing request.....that buyer may never come back
• Allow a lock box on your door so the buyer's agent can enter your home using a unique code instead of a key
• Stay away during showings and open houses so buyers feel comfortable touring your home.  You want them to "kick the tires".  You want the buyers to open closets and take the time to explore your home.  

The longer the buyer stays in your home the better it is.  That tells you they like your home.  So don't get mad that the buyer stayed a long time.

Welcome the Buyer

Although the buyer is a guest in your home, you want the buyer to imagine owning the home. You don't want to make the buyer feel like an intruder.

• Make a note or small sign welcoming the buyer to the home.  
• Leave a bowl of wrapped candy or other treats near the front door with a small note telling the buyer it is for them.

Keep the Room Temperature Comfortable

• Now is not the time to be frugal about your utility bill. If it's cold enough to wear a sweater to stay warm, turn on the heat. Don't make buyers shiver or they will be running out of the house.
• If it is hot or even borderline warm outside, turn on the air conditioning. It's better to heat or cool the house a degree or two warmer / colder than usual and then set the temperature at normal right before you leave. This prevents the furnace or air conditioner from kicking on when the buyer is present.
• You want the temperature inside to be comfortable and to give the buyer more of a reason to linger, especially on hot or cold days!

Let the Light In 

• Put in the highest wattage bulbs possible in each light fixture.
• Turn on every light in the house, including under the counter lights, floor lamps, table lamps, cabinet lights, appliance lights and closet lights.
• Brighten dark rooms with only a few windows by placing spot lights on the floor behind furniture.
• Open all the drapes, shades, blinds, curtains, and shutters unless it opens a bad view of the junk in the neighbors yard or shows a bad view.

Create a Mood

• A fire in the fireplace helps sell a home on chilly winter days. Even if it is in the middle of summer it sets a good mood.
• Make the tub romantic by placing two champagne glasses on a nearby table with a bottle of champagne.  Flower petals and candles help too.
• Turn on soft music and have it playing in the background.  It helps to drown out traffic, the neighbors dog barking, or outside noise. 
• If you have a waterfall or water fountains, turn them on. Falling water is soothing to many people.

Smells and the buyer

• Prior to showings air out the house by opening windows.  This may eliminate the house smelling stale. 
• Do not over do with plug in scents or using spray scents.
• If weather permits, open the windows -- if there is too much noise outside, close them.
• Burning a candle especially to set a mood in the bathroom or to help cover a smell helps.
• Have a friend walk through that has a good nose.  Do they smell pets odors? Or mold? Cigarettes?  Food? 
• If you're going to bake cookies or simmer spices such as cinnamon in water on the stove, put out munchies so buyers aren't disappointed. 

Bad smells will have buyers running out of your home even if they cannot identify it.  So do not cook with spices like curry, or garlic.  Stay away from cooking seafood too.  Comforting smells, like baking bread, brewing coffee, or fresh flowers can be appealing to most potential buyers. 

Play Up the Visual

• If you have seasonal photographs showcasing flower gardens, leaves bursting in color or a snow-covered lawn twinkling from street lights, then display them in a prominent position.
• Open all the window coverings to show off great views of a lake, back yard, back yard patio, or how private the yard is. 

Encourage Touching

• Drape sensuous fabrics such as velvet wraps or silk throws over chair arms. 
• Leave closet doors slightly ajar so buyers look in them. 

Little Touches

• Put dirty clothes in the washer or dryer to hide them.
• Have a couple of storage tubs handy to quickly put away everyday living items.  Maybe a small tub for bathroom counter items.  A larger one for kitchen counter items.
• If you have carpeting, vacuum in one direction and don't walk on it again.

Protect your valuables

• It’s important to safeguard valuables, personal information and sensitive items.
• Stow small items like electronics, jewelry and prescription medications.
• Protect financial statements and documents. 
• Put items in a safe, and hide them

Provide Thoughtful Cards

Attach printed cards to items and in rooms that provide further information the buyer might miss or might not know. You have so little time to make an impression.

Following these top tips for showing will help keep buyers in your home and make it stand out from the other homes on the market.  We want buyers to perceive your home as the "best one" out there.

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