When you show your home to prospective buyers, the goal is to make it easy and appealing for them to imagine themselves living there. It is key to highlight the mid-century elements that make your home unique and special to maximize offers from buyers. Which is why it’s so important to know how to prepare your mid mod home for showings.
If you follow the best practices for how to prepare your home for showings, you’ll maximize the offers you receive from buyers.
So, use the information below like a checklist to ensure you take the right steps regarding how to prepare your mid mod home for showings.
What to Do When Preparing Your Home for Showings
- Highlight Mid-Century Design Elements: Highlight the original design elements that make your home special: Window walls, clerestory windows, a cool front door, original ovens, breeze block walls, original fireplaces, etc. When done correctly with the proper listing photos, buyers will come in looking to see these elements.
- Know the Age & Condition of Major Components: You will need to disclose all you know about the home to perspective buyers. Take the time to find out the age and condition of the following before listing the home: Heating/Cooling (HVAC) System, Roof, Electrical Panel & Wiring, Hot Water Tank, Underground Plumbing. When checking these items out issues may arise that can be serviced or repaired/replaced before the home is listed for sale
- Make repairs. Dripping faucets, squeaky doors, torn screens, cracks or holes in the wall, and other damage send the message that the home hasn’t been well cared for.
- Tidy up the exterior. Make sure the landscaping is pristine and organized. Mow the lawn, trim the trees and bushes, edge the walkways and driveway, have broken or loose pavers fixed, remove any yard clutter, and maybe place a few fresh flower pots near the entrance. A clean and well maintained exterior feels more spacious and sets a positive tone before buyers even enter the home. Curb appeal is more often than not overlooked. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression and curb appeal is the first impression.
- Apply fresh paint. If your walls haven’t been repainted recently, it’s a great idea to do so before you begin showing your home. Use neutral colors inside. This really freshens up the look and feel of any room. Fresh exterior paint can give your curb appeal a big boost too. Don’t be afraid of brighter period appropriate exterior colors. Stay away from all shades of tan
- Clean up the clutter. To quote the master Mies van der Rohe, “Less is More”. Throw out, pack away, or store as much stuff that’s laying around as you can. Floors, counters, tables, and all other surfaces must be clear. This creates a more pleasant environment, makes the spaces seem larger, and prevents the uncomfortable feelings that clutter can trigger.
- Clean everything. It’s worthwhile to invest in a deep professional clean right before you’re going to list your home and start showing it. And then, keep on top of the cleaning regularly between showings. Every inch of your home should sparkle at every showing.
- Let there be light. Natural light is your friend. Clean all the windows inside and out, and keep the curtains, shades, or blinds open during showings. Change any light bulbs that are burnt out. If there are areas of your home that are on the dark side, put in higher wattage bulbs.
- Let in fresh air. If the weather isn’t forbidding, give your home some time to air out before showings (and even during, if the weather cooperates). This helps eliminate odors and that stale feeling that can develop in indoor atmospheres. But make sure your home is temperate throughout by the time anyone arrives. Also keep ceiling fans on low to aid in air circulation to keep rooms fresh.
- Stage Your Home: If the home you are selling is empty when you are ready to sell and is priced over $650,000 it is worth it to have the home staged. Use a company that uses mid-century furniture and decorations to accentuate the style of the home
- Don’t leave valuables laying around. Remember, strangers will be moving through your home. Real estate agents try to keep an eye on things, but they can’t watch everyone at all times. Don’t leave a wallet, money, jewelry, medication, or other valuables around.
- Clear out. Everyone needs to be out of the house during showings. It’s awkward when the current owners are there during a showing. And this goes for pets, too. Take them with you if you can, or leave them with a friend, family member, or neighbor.
