Keeping Your Home Listing Ready

Keeping Your Home Show ReadyCreate an inviting fron t por ch with a simple rug, sign element and well-cared for plants. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MORGAN GREGORY, CENTRAL MN REALTY How to keep your home listing ready

BY SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER

Preparing a house for showings has stirred panic and frenzy into many a home seller, but a local realtor said it doesn’t have to be that way.

Sheena Sunderman, of Central MN Realty, said she works hard with clients up front so they don’t have to fret every time they get a call for a showing.

“The fi rst and easiest thing to do is simply declutter,” she said. “Think of it in terms of starting to pack up. Start by going through things you’re not going to use on a daily basis and get those things boxed up and out of the house.”

The goal of decluttering, she said, is to create the most open and simplifi ed, yet cozy space possible so those touring can envision themselves in the home. While taking down personal photos has long been a recommendation of realtors, Sunderman takes it a step further and said it’s a way for sellers to protect their families. Detailed pictures of the home get uploaded to the web and they contain images of personal photographs and items, putting the faces of family members out to the public, she said. As clients declutter, Sunderman said, she asks them to look at each space and think about what can be taken out of the room to make it look bigger. Things like Curio cabinets in the corners and chairs/couches in bedrooms should be packed up and stored, she said. Decorative items and books on shelves should be cleaned up and tidied, creating visual space on each shelf. LISTING READY | continued page 4 Sheena Sunderman, Central MN Realty

Beauti fy your home inside and out!!

Now Doing Epoxy Floors!

SCHMEEZ Concrete • Driveways • Sidewalks • Patios • Garage Floors • Brick • Stone • Exposed Aggregate • Colored Concrete Schmeez Concrete Schmeez Concrete

4 • September 23, 2022 | Fall Home Guide Special Edition

LISTING READY | from page 3

Decluttering, she said, is about creating visual breathing room. That means simple things like removing all the magnets from a refrigerator and wiping down the face. It also means clearing kitchen countertops – one of the top clutter crutches.

“A coff ee maker is ok, but baskets of paper, cutting boards, a lot of times kitchens can get very cluttered,” she said. “Remove everything, it’s just going to make the kitchen look bigger and show off all the counter spaces.”

First impressions, she said, are important so clean up the foyer and entryway, ridding it of shoes and bags. Adding a simple plant and a throw rug to the front entrance can create a welcoming fi rst look. Remember, two to three people will be coming into the space at a time so it’s important to keep it open and airy.

BEDROOM: Pillows and throw blanket add cozy elements to this bedroom while the complimentary whites keep the focus and color palette simple.

ENTRY WAY: This foyer provides a simple, yet decorative, place to remove shoes and the simplistic décor provides an open and airy space while giving the fi rst glimpse into the home.

“You want that fi rst impression to really grab them,” Sunderman said.

While she said doing small home projects, like replacing missing or dead light bulbs, tightening a wobbly door knob or touching up paint are important, she doesn’t see the need for large-scale home remodeling projects especially with today’s market. The little details make all the diff erence, she said.

KITCHEN: A clean, uncluttered countertop is the start to showing off one of a home’s best features. Take care to remove all magnets and paperwork from the refrigerator to provide a clean look.

“If it looks too busy, it’s hard to see the potential of the space.” Sheena Sunderman

TOYS: The kids’ toys are stashed away in decorative baskets underneath artfully placed décor. Pair down each shelving unit in the home to provide visual breathing room and a focus on the aesthetics of the room.

BATHROOM: Clean off countertops, wipe down surfaces, close the toilet lid and put out fresh towels to keep the bathroom looking its best.

Here are some simple tips for quick clean-ups before a showing:

* Add a little cozy décor to the front entry, pick up the shoes and clutter and put them in the closet, out of sight. * Grab some cute baskets and have them on hand to run through the house and bunch together all the toys and/or clutter. * People aren’t expecting picture-perfect closets so use those spaces to put things out of sight and reduce the visual clutter in a room. * Vacuum and sweep. * Wipe down the countertops and put any lingering dishes into the dishwasher. * Wipe down the bathrooms, storing toiletries out of sight in an easy-to-grab basket. Countertops should be clear, the shower curtain should be closed, but know potential buyers will defi nitely check behind the curtain so keep it clean. Close the toilet lid. * Invest in a few sets of inexpensive towels and use them only for showings. Put out the hand towel and if there’s a towel bar in the room, hang a set of neatly-folded towels on the bar. * Make the beds and pick up clothes from the fl oor and put them in a hamper. Add simple throw pillows to the top of the bed and a throw at the bottom to cozy up the space. * Smells are very important. Consider running an essential oil diff user with a light scent. Open the windows if possible. Avoid artifi cial scents and air fresheners as people can be sensitive to them. * Ideally, remove pets from the home and take their bowls, litter box, etc. with you. Store pet foods in an airtight container to reduce potential smells. If an animal must be left at home, be sure it is crated so guests don’t interact with your pet. * Remove cobwebs and bug debris from your front porch or outdoor steps to have a visually clean space.

“While these things are important, I never want my sellers to get overly stressed or overthink them,” Sunderman said. “We want to make it as stress-free and as least complicated as possible. Do some simple steps but don’t feel like you have to go overboard and get stressed out about it.”