You’ve spent the time and money on getting your home in exceptional shape for listing photos, virtual tours, and private showings.
But whether you live by yourself and have a large family, day-to-day life means that things won’t stay spotless for long. With low inventory and active buyers, requests for private showings can be frequent, and sometimes come on short notice.
Here are some tips for keeping your home show-ready:
Eliminate Clutter
While you were preparing your house for the market, you probably cleared out the clutter. Now, you just have to keep it out! If items start creeping back in, do another inventory check. Items no longer wanted or needed items can be removed from the house completely by donating or selling. Pack up other belongings and leave the boxes in the basement or storage. Living with only the essentials means you need to live simply now, but it makes those quick cleanup sessions much easier.
Remove Valuables
Be mindful of what you leave out in plain sight. Valuable and breakable items, such as jewelry, china, and collectibles, can be packed or secured in a safe.
Keep the Staging in Place
If you had your home staged, keep the furniture in place. Stagers work to highlight the best aspects of your home. So if the couch isn’t in your favorite position to watch TV, resist the temptation to move it.
Daily Checklist
Each day, go through your daily chore checklist for keeping the house cleaned up. Staying on top of tasks daily won’t take a lot of time, but it will save a lot of stress when you get a request for a last minute-showing.
Here’s a simple daily checklist:
- Clear sink of all dishes.
- Wipe down kitchen countertops.
- Pick up toys and other items from the floor.
- Make sure laundry is either clean or in a hamper.
- Wipe bathroom counters.
- Make all beds.
When you know you have a showing coming, you will also need to:
- Vacuum or sweep the floors.
- Dust throughout the house.
- Clean windows.
- Clean bathrooms.
- Take out the trash.
- Pick up pet bowls and beds.
- Check outdoor living areas.
Have a Plan
You have the final approval of showings, which means you can say no if there’s a time that doesn’t work out for you. However, you want to be thoughtful of potential buyers as well. Have a plan for what you can do to get out of the house on short notice.