The Ultimate Open Home Checklist for Sellers

Preparing your home for an open house or property viewing can be an overwhelming experience. With so many considerations to implement in order to give your house the best possible chance on the market, you can be excused for potentially forgetting the finer details. Often, the small (yet very important) factors can be overlooked, but not to worry – this blog has you covered! With our extensive experience in home staging in tow, we have come up with this property viewing checklist, also known as, your handy little guide to making your home irresistible to potential buyers! Let’s get started… 

Spick and span

Before you open your doors to buyers, you need to make sure your home is completely clean and free of clutter. If you haven’t already had your home professionally cleaned, now is the time! While you can certainly do some cleaning yourself, a professional will more thoroughly clean tricky things like carpets, windows, ovens, and tile grout.

After your home has had a big clean, make sure to keep your space in good condition for as long as it’s on the market. Any time there’s an open for inspection, make sure you do some last minute clean-ups. That means decluttering bench items, vacuuming, mopping, and dusting all surfaces.

In the kitchen and dining room, wipe away all traces of food crumbs and empty the sink and dishwasher. If the stove top and backsplash are looking a little worse for wear, make sure to clean them too.

‘Scent’ the mood

When potential buyers step foot into your home, you need to make sure you set a pleasant ambience to ease them into their journey through your home. One way to make an impression is to style your space with some fragrance. Research has shown that scent is highly emotive and memorable, and can go a long way in setting the mood. 

Choose a subtle and pleasant scent that suits the look and feel of your home. Essential oils and reed diffusers are a great way to introduce scent into your home, and scented candles have the added benefit of creating a relaxed source of lighting as well.

Let in the light

Open those curtains and - if the weather permits - open up those windows too! Letting natural sunlight and air into your home will make it look and feel fresh and inviting.

It’s also really important that you have lighting that highlights key areas in your home, particularly if there are some areas that are dark even in the daytime. Table and floor lamps are a convenient and often inexpensive way of introducing lighting that also act as a decorative element. Don’t forget to make sure all your lightbulbs are working, and replace those that aren’t.

Sounds about right

You might also consider utilising sound to set the mood in your home. Having some pleasant music playing in the background keeps your potential buyers relaxed and encourages them to spend more time discovering your home. Supermarkets have been doing this for decades now, and for good reason! Make sure to choose music that suits the type of buyer you’re expecting to attend, and play it at a low volume so as not to overwhelm them.

Stay warm / keep cool

Your home’s temperature also plays a part in making your potential buyers feel at home. Depending on the season, make sure you turn on the heater or AC a few hours before your property viewing so that your home is at the appropriate temperature by the time people start walking in.

If your home feels stuffy, crack open some windows to air out your space. Fresh air can do wonders to the overall ambience of a home.

Remove personal items

Before your open house, make sure to collect personal items and store them out of sight. In property staging, one of the first things we do is ‘de-personalise’ a home by removing personal items like family photographs, shoes, school bags, and knick-knacks. This is because a balanced and neutral environment invites buyers to imagine themselves living in the space, and can really influence how they feel about your home.

Style it up

Bring out decorative items such as bedding, pillows, cushions and artwork to recreate the looks provided for you during your property staging. You want your home to look as good as it did in the photos on your property listing. Your home has to live up to the hype! 

Aside from decorative styling, you need to make sure that beds are made, sofa seats are fluffed, and rugs are straightened out. All these little details work together in creating a stylish and welcoming atmosphere.

Pack away pet items

While you love your fur babies, your potential buyers may not be so inclined. Be sure to send your pet to a sitter or take them for a walk during the open home, and put away food bowls, beds, toys, and litter boxes. Also take the time to clean traces of pet fluff from floors and furniture.

Don’t forget to deodorize your home too! Sometimes, as pet owners, you might be used to certain scents that might put off potential buyers, so get someone who doesn’t live in your home to confirm you’re in the clear.

It might also be a good idea to double-check your outdoor areas to make sure there aren’t little surprises left behind by your furry companion.

Green up your space

Plants have been known to be good for your health: frequently looking at plants have been proven to reduce strain on overtired eyes, and can even lower your blood pressure and reduce feelings of anxiety. While fresh flowers and leafy plants are always charming, fake plants still have these same benefits, with less maintenance needed to keep them looking fresh.

These days, faux flowers and plants are easy to find, and look incredibly realistic too. Make sure to include some greenery in every room to breathe life into it!

Make sure everything works

Go around your house and check that windows and doors are all in working order, and that they aren’t jammed or sticky. This includes cupboards and cabinets too! If you have sliding wardrobe doors, clean the tracks so they’re free of debris. Remember to oil up squeaky door hinges and tighten any door knobs that are feeling a little loose. 

Behind closed doors

Some buyers will open cabinets and drawers, so make sure your wardrobes, cupboards, and pantry are neat and organised. If you must have a spot to hide your clutter, make sure that drawer or cabinet is locked! 

One good idea is to store away personal items or pet items in a locked suitcase, and store that in your car while your house is open for viewing. That way, all these items are packed in one place and are easy to put back when your property viewing is all done!

Curb appeal

While the interior of your space is definitely important, the truth is that the exterior of your home is where first impressions will be made! And as they say, you don’t get a second chance at making a first impression, so make sure your home has curb appeal from the get-go.

Make sure your front lawn is freshly mowed and free of dead leaves. If you have flowers and hedges, make sure they’re well-maintained. Prune or remove dead flowers and plants if you need to. 

Remember to clear out your mailbox and empty your rubbish bins as well. In fact, it may be a good idea to move your bins out of sight altogether.

Need help preparing your home for a property viewing?

Here at RAHS, we are passionate about showcasing your home to its full potential. We know what potential buyers want to see in their dream home, and take pride in helping our clients create a space that really sells. So if you need help to prepare your home for the market, don’t hesitate to contact us to arrange a pre-sale consultation!