Preparing Your Home for an Open House

Selling your home in a buyer's market. Walk yourOpen all blinds and drapes and for the day take off
home, clean, paint and de-clutter.sun protective screens if they can be. The object
Pay special attention to the kitchen, including thehere is to let as much indirect sunlight in as possible
inside of the refrigerator, (yes, people open up yourto make your home look bright, cheery and inviting.`
frig.) and the bathrooms. They say, here in the ValleyTurn on additional lamps and lights while temporarily
of the Sun, including Phoenix, Chandler, andincreasing the wattage to 100 watts if your lamps
Ahwatukee, that "woman look carefully at theare rated for the same. If not, put the highest
kitchen and bathrooms", "and men look at the garagewattage rated bulb you can in as many lights as you
and the yard."can.
I can not tell you the times I have shown homesRemove excess clutter, vacuum, and clean,
with a garage that looked like a pack rat's nest.especially, again, the bathrooms and kitchen. Don't
Throw it out, have a garage sale, however you do it,forget to make the beds, all of them, even juniors.
get rid of it, and organize, organize, organize.Lock away all of your valuables. A special note.
From the outside in. If there are any oil stains on theIn all the years I have been in the business of buying,
drive, remove them and generally hose down orselling and investing in real estate, I have never had
sweep the drive including the garage and outdoorthings stolen during an open house. That said, better
patios.safe than sorry, and do NOT ever tempt as in
If it's the season, and here in Phoenix if I'm going toleaving money around.
put your home up on the Phoenix MLS, I want toIf you hired an agent to put you in the Phoenix MLS,
see bright fresh flowers in the front yard. They canand he or she is hosting the open house, make
be in movable pots and you can take them with you.arrangements to be away the days of the open
(If you are taking them, make sure this is clearlyhouse. Allow the agent to do their job, sell your
stated in the Phoenix MLS or the purchase offer.)house. That is what they do. If you are holding the
Continue with the outside by picking up any toys oropen house, whether or not you have an agent and
other extraneous objects, and putting away (afterare listed on the Phoenix MLS, answer any questions,
using) all lawn equipment including mowers, rakes,point out up to three features you absolutely love
shovels, etc.about the house or neighborhood, great schools is
Pets, like dogs or cats. Remove them for the dayespecially good, then let the folks wander. They
even if they are the nicest creatures in Phoenix,want to look at your house, not become best
Ahwatukee, Chandler or Gilbert. They don't work forfriends.
guests at an open house, and distract them from theFollow this advice in Phoenix, Chandler, Ahwatukee,
business at hand, that of buying your house! MakeGilbert or Mesa or anywhere in the country and you'll
sure all snakes, lizards, pet spiders, and fish etc. aredo just fine selling your home in a "down market".
well confined.