Selling a Property: Preparing a Property for Viewing

As an investor, you are conditioned to looking at property objectively and considering the business elements of the transaction. Your potential buyers are more likely to be emotional at least to some degree, because they are looking for a home. For example, it may be easy for you to look at a room done in some nauseating colour with gouges in the walls and visualize what it will look like patched up and properly painted—but someone just looking for a comfortable home may not be able to get past the thought of, “I can't live in this!” Understanding this is the first step toward preparing a property for viewing.

When you are selling a property, you want to make it as appealing as possible to the most number of potential buyers. These tips will help you get a property ready to be seen:

Thoroughly clean the property. Consider hiring a professional cleaning team that knows how to make a property sparkle.
Remove clutter. If the property is furnished or occupied, be sure all unnecessary items are stored away.
Keep it bright and open. Open the drapes and turn the lights on, even during the day. Keep interior doors open to create the effect of space.
Stage the property with non-personal items such as flowers, bowls of fruit, and neutral prints on the walls so that a viewer can picture himself living there.
Do not display personal photographs or items. This could make a viewer feel like an intruder and make it hard for him to see himself living there.
Eliminate any unpleasant odours. Give the property a thorough “sniff test” and correct any problems that might be generating an offensive smell.
Add an appealing fragrance. Try baking bread, heating almonds gently in the oven, or dabbing a bit of vanilla extract on light bulbs (the aroma releases when the bulb is turned on). Fresh flowers can also add a nice scent to the property.
Consider soft background music to mask outside noises.
Pay special attention to the entrance and front hall. This is what your viewers see first, so be sure it makes the best impression possible.
Make the garden as neat and attractive as possible. Keep the lawn mowed, the beds weeded, and the shrubs trimmed. Paint or replace fences and put away all toys and garden clutter.

Finally, remember that you are part of the viewing experience. Dress neatly in a smart but relaxed outfit that will blend with whatever your prospective buyers might wear, from jeans to suits. Know the property thoroughly so you are prepared to answer any question you might be asked with honesty, confidence, and enthusiasm. Be friendly but not overly-so and ask questions so that you can establish a rapport with the viewers. Creating a favorable impression and pleasant experience will make it much easier to close the sale.

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