Phoenix MLS: Preparing Your Home for an Open House

First see my article, Phoenix MLS: Selling your home in a buyer's market. Walk your home, clean, paint and de-clutter. Pay special attention to the kitchen, including the inside of the refrigerator, (yes, people open up your frig.) and the bathrooms. They say, here in the Valley of the Sun, including Phoenix, Chandler, and Ahwatukee, that "woman look carefully at the kitchen and bathrooms", "and men look at the garage and the yard."

I can not tell you the times I have shown homes with a garage that looked like a pack rat's nest. Throw it out, have a garage sale, however you do it, get rid of it, and organize, organize, organize.

From the outside in. If there are any oil stains on the drive, remove them and generally hose down or sweep the drive including the garage and outdoor patios. If it's the season, and here in Phoenix if I'm going to put your home up on the Phoenix MLS, I want to see bright fresh flowers in the front yard. They can be in movable pots and you can take them with you. (If you are taking them, make sure this is clearly stated in the Phoenix MLS or the purchase offer.)

Continue with the outside by picking up any toys or other extraneous objects, and putting away (after using) all lawn equipment including mowers, rakes, shovels, etc.

Pets, like dogs or cats. Remove them for the day even if they are the nicest creatures in Phoenix, Ahwatukee, Chandler or Gilbert. They don't work for guests at an open house, and distract them from the business at hand, that of buying your house! Make sure all snakes, lizards, pet spiders, and fish etc. are well confined.

Open all blinds and drapes and for the day take off sun protective screens if they can be. The object here is to let as much indirect sunlight in as possible to make your home look bright, cheery and inviting.` Turn on additional lamps and lights while temporarily increasing the wattage to 100 watts if your lamps are rated for the same. If not, put the highest wattage rated bulb you can in as many lights as you can.