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<p><strong>Courtesy of Jimmie Van Hooser your REALTOR®  - 931-320-2142 </strong></p>
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<p><strong>Simple Tips for Better Home Showings</strong></p>
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<p><strong>1. Remove clutter and clear off counters. </strong>Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too.<br /> <br /> <strong>2. Wash your windows and screens.</strong> This will help get more light into the interior of the home.<br /> <br /> <strong>3. Keep everything extra clean. </strong>A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well-cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator. Polish your doorknobs and address numbers. It’s worth hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.<br /> <br /> <strong>4. Get rid of smells.</strong> Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows to air out the house. Potpourri or scented candles will help.<br /> <br /> <strong>5. Brighten your rooms.</strong> Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned-out bulbs in closets. Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of neutral color paint.<br /> <br /> <strong>6. Don’t disregard minor repairs.</strong> Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well-maintained. <br /> <br /> <strong>7. Tidy your yard.</strong> Cut the grass, rake the leaves, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters. For added curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the entryway.<br /> <br /> <strong>8. Patch holes</strong>. Repair any holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.</p>
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<p><strong>9. Add a touch of color in the living room.</strong> A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room. Buy new accent pillows for the sofa.</p>
<p><br /> <strong>10. Buy a flowering plant and put it near a window you pass by frequently.</strong></p>
<p><br /> <strong>11. Make centerpieces for your tables. </strong>Use brightly colored fruit or flowers.</p>
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<p><strong>12. Set the scene. </strong>Set the table with fancy dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help buyers picture living there. For example, in the basement you might display a chess game in progress. <br /> <br /></p>
<p><strong>13. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light.</strong> Show off the view if you have one.</p>
<p><br /> <strong>14.</strong> <strong>Accentuate the fireplace. </strong>Lay fresh logs in the fireplace or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.<br /> <br /></p>
<p><strong>15. Make the bathrooms feel luxurious. </strong>Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and fancy guest soaps. Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of sight.</p>
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<p><strong>16. Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. </strong>If that’s not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (ideally in the basement), and let the real estate practitioner know where they’ll be to eliminate surprises.</p>
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<p><strong>17. Lock up valuables, jewelry, and money. </strong>While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing or open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.</p>
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<p><strong>18. Leave the home.</strong> It’s usually best if the sellers are not at home. It’s awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.</p>
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