Showability: What is it and why is it so important?
By Dave Fleming 03/21/2016
Showability signifies how well your home shows through advertising photos and during tours & open houses. Are you going to impress buyers by showing off your home's best features or will old paint and broken light bulbs hurt your chances with some buyers?
It is essential you don't turn potential buyers away from your house because easily avoidable turn offs weren't addressed. Buyers might balk at an otherwise ideal home because of a funky smell, stain, clutter, or broken fixtures. A small investment and some good old elbow grease can drastically improve how well your home looks to potential buyers thereby increasing your chances to sell fast and for the best price. Here are five basic steps you can take to greatly improve how well your home shows to potential buyers or your home's "showability".
It is essential you don't turn potential buyers away from your house because easily avoidable turn offs weren't addressed. Buyers might balk at an otherwise ideal home because of a funky smell, stain, clutter, or broken fixtures. A small investment and some good old elbow grease can drastically improve how well your home looks to potential buyers thereby increasing your chances to sell fast and for the best price. Here are five basic steps you can take to greatly improve how well your home shows to potential buyers or your home's "showability".
Clean and bright make for ideal showings
#1 Staging
Before showings, you can take some very basic steps to increase the appeal of your home. One of the most commonly overlooked simple steps to take is to light a scented candle or use an air freshener during showings. The house may not stink, but most buyers will enjoy the smell of warm baked cookies when walking into a stranger's home. Put out a bowl of candy and keep the buyer standing around considering purchasing your home for a few more minutes. Make sure things like ashtrays and dirty laundry aren't left around the house. Always highlight your home's best features. If you have a large grand living room window, make sure there aren't blinds and curtains draped over it or a bunch of boxes piled in front of it. Work with your Realtor to maximize the steps you can take to make sure potential buyers have no trouble enjoying a showing at your home.
Before showings, you can take some very basic steps to increase the appeal of your home. One of the most commonly overlooked simple steps to take is to light a scented candle or use an air freshener during showings. The house may not stink, but most buyers will enjoy the smell of warm baked cookies when walking into a stranger's home. Put out a bowl of candy and keep the buyer standing around considering purchasing your home for a few more minutes. Make sure things like ashtrays and dirty laundry aren't left around the house. Always highlight your home's best features. If you have a large grand living room window, make sure there aren't blinds and curtains draped over it or a bunch of boxes piled in front of it. Work with your Realtor to maximize the steps you can take to make sure potential buyers have no trouble enjoying a showing at your home.
#2 Curb Appeal
You hear about it all the time because it is crucial. Not only are first impressions paramount for potential buyers but neighbors, passersby, real estate agents, and friends are more likely to recommend a home that looks beautiful from the curb than a drab, overgrown, or run down home. No matter how gorgeous the interior, it does not matter if a potential buyer never steps foot inside because of an off-putting exterior. Landscaping is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to improve your showability. You can buy pebbles, mulch, pavers, etc. at local home improvement store, and, if you perform the work yourself, it can be among the best returns on investment you'll find when prepping your home for sale. If you have the budget for it, you can hire a landscaper for a professional design. Either way, you'll be amazed at how trimming some bushes, pulling some weeds, throwing a little grass seed down, and mulching around the tree will make your exterior pop.
You hear about it all the time because it is crucial. Not only are first impressions paramount for potential buyers but neighbors, passersby, real estate agents, and friends are more likely to recommend a home that looks beautiful from the curb than a drab, overgrown, or run down home. No matter how gorgeous the interior, it does not matter if a potential buyer never steps foot inside because of an off-putting exterior. Landscaping is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to improve your showability. You can buy pebbles, mulch, pavers, etc. at local home improvement store, and, if you perform the work yourself, it can be among the best returns on investment you'll find when prepping your home for sale. If you have the budget for it, you can hire a landscaper for a professional design. Either way, you'll be amazed at how trimming some bushes, pulling some weeds, throwing a little grass seed down, and mulching around the tree will make your exterior pop.
#3 Cleanliness & Clutter
Another easy and cheap fix is to spend some time sprucing up the interior. That means it's time to break out the cleaning supplies. Tubs, sinks, windows, counter tops, and floors should all be kept clean. Dirty windows, dishes, and litter boxes are no-nos. Stains, clothing laying around, bugs (dead and alive) should all be cleaned up before showings. If you have a lot of carpets, I highly recommend steam cleaning the carpets. You can rent carpet cleaners for under $100 and make all the carpets so fresh and so clean clean. Again, scented candles work wonders.
In addition to cleaning, it is important not to overlook daily clutter to the point that it is an obstacle for buyers. This ensures potential buyers can imagine themselves living there instead of focusing on a mess or fighting through cluttered rooms. This can be especially difficult when preparing to move. If you are in the process of packing, try to keep boxes out of the way and not blocking any key features (ie. don't stack boxes up in front of your fireplace). Basically, before any showing the house should be clean and tidy to maximize showability.
Another easy and cheap fix is to spend some time sprucing up the interior. That means it's time to break out the cleaning supplies. Tubs, sinks, windows, counter tops, and floors should all be kept clean. Dirty windows, dishes, and litter boxes are no-nos. Stains, clothing laying around, bugs (dead and alive) should all be cleaned up before showings. If you have a lot of carpets, I highly recommend steam cleaning the carpets. You can rent carpet cleaners for under $100 and make all the carpets so fresh and so clean clean. Again, scented candles work wonders.
In addition to cleaning, it is important not to overlook daily clutter to the point that it is an obstacle for buyers. This ensures potential buyers can imagine themselves living there instead of focusing on a mess or fighting through cluttered rooms. This can be especially difficult when preparing to move. If you are in the process of packing, try to keep boxes out of the way and not blocking any key features (ie. don't stack boxes up in front of your fireplace). Basically, before any showing the house should be clean and tidy to maximize showability.
#4 Lighting
You know your house and its lighting best. Highlight the windows with a beautiful sunset view or all day light. If you have blinds and drapes, make sure they're clean and letting in as much light as possible. You may even want to consider taking them down entirely and painting the trim to really highlight great windows (photo below). Make sure glass panes are clean and ledges are dust free. Skylights, large windows, and door glass are important to hit. During showings, turn on lights in rooms without light switches. If there are any spaces that buyers won't be able to see in the dark or because there is no light, you may want to leave a flashlight handy. And of course, make sure all the bulbs are in working order.
You know your house and its lighting best. Highlight the windows with a beautiful sunset view or all day light. If you have blinds and drapes, make sure they're clean and letting in as much light as possible. You may even want to consider taking them down entirely and painting the trim to really highlight great windows (photo below). Make sure glass panes are clean and ledges are dust free. Skylights, large windows, and door glass are important to hit. During showings, turn on lights in rooms without light switches. If there are any spaces that buyers won't be able to see in the dark or because there is no light, you may want to leave a flashlight handy. And of course, make sure all the bulbs are in working order.
#5 DIYs
It's time to bust out that Honey-Do-List. The drywall hole in the basement or the busted door knob should be fixed before you market your home. If you have especially bad flooring, it is best to fix it before showings as it is a huge turnoff for many buyers. And, of course, everybody's favorite: painting. A coat of paint can work wonders. Some key areas to consider painting are the front door (see: #2 Curb Appeal) and trim work, principally around key features like grand windows or fireplace mantels.
It's time to bust out that Honey-Do-List. The drywall hole in the basement or the busted door knob should be fixed before you market your home. If you have especially bad flooring, it is best to fix it before showings as it is a huge turnoff for many buyers. And, of course, everybody's favorite: painting. A coat of paint can work wonders. Some key areas to consider painting are the front door (see: #2 Curb Appeal) and trim work, principally around key features like grand windows or fireplace mantels.
A lost weekend can make a huge difference in your showability.
One final tip
Best practice is to take care of as many of the showability remedies as possible before you put your home on the market. You want to have the best opportunity to sell as quickly as possible for the highest possible price. Every person who sees your for sale sign is a potential buyer referral. Every buyer who sees photos of the house online is a potential sale. Make sure you're putting your best foot forward from day one and follow these simple steps to improve how well your house shows. Enlist your Realtor's help or, if you want to go the extra mile, consider hiring a staging expert.
Best practice is to take care of as many of the showability remedies as possible before you put your home on the market. You want to have the best opportunity to sell as quickly as possible for the highest possible price. Every person who sees your for sale sign is a potential buyer referral. Every buyer who sees photos of the house online is a potential sale. Make sure you're putting your best foot forward from day one and follow these simple steps to improve how well your house shows. Enlist your Realtor's help or, if you want to go the extra mile, consider hiring a staging expert.
Dave Fleming 717-258-0034
Dave is a licensed Realtor® in the state of Pennsylvania RS#300174 with
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 717-243-8080
When calling, please leave a message, and I will respond ASAP. Due to a large volume of solicitations, I do not answer unknown numbers.
All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Find a qualified Realtor anywhere in the world for FREE!
Dave is a licensed Realtor® in the state of Pennsylvania RS#300174 with
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 717-243-8080
When calling, please leave a message, and I will respond ASAP. Due to a large volume of solicitations, I do not answer unknown numbers.
All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Find a qualified Realtor anywhere in the world for FREE!
