If you're showing your house to potential buyers, it must look its best. Of course, this isn't always easy, especially when you're still living in it. What happens when you get a call for a last-minute showing? How do you make your home presentable quickly? Here are a few tips for ensuring Holderness homes for sale can be show-ready in a flash.

• Preparation. You don't always know when you'll have a showing, but that doesn't mean you can't prepare a little. First thing every morning, make all the beds in the house and open all the shades or blinds. Also, dust and vacuum at least once a week, mow the lawn, and trim/water any other plants. This will save time on preparations and cleaning, making your home presentable faster.
  
  
• Ventilation. Open your windows as soon as you get the call for a last-minute showing. Even a few minutes of this will let clean, fresh air into your home and help displace any lingering odors. Avoid using chemical air fresheners, as they give the impression that you're covering up another odor. Natural, fresh air is always more appealing to potential buyers.
  
  
• Cleaning. The main thing you need to do to get your home show-ready is cleaning. If you did a deep clean when you first put your home on the market and have been keeping up with regular vacuuming, mopping, and dusting, then a quick once-over should be enough to make your home presentable. Start with windows, glass doors, and mirrors, and make sure they're free of smudges and streaks. Then do a wipe-down of the stove and countertops, particularly if you've used them for meal prep. Do a quick cleaning of the kitchen sink, bathroom sinks, and toilets. Finally, do one last quick vacuum of the living room floor, particularly if it's been a couple of days since you did it last.
  
  
• Clutter Boxes. Keep a couple of boxes or bags handy where you can get rid of clutter in a hurry. Whether it be books on the coffee table, photos and knickknacks on the mantle, kids' toys on the floor, or dirty plates and glasses on the kitchen counter, have a set place where you can put unsightly odds and ends to get them out of the way. Then, put your clutter boxes somewhere out of sight, such as a high closet shelf.
  
  
• Priorities. If you don't have time to stage every room, start with the most important ones. Typically, the living room is where potential buyers will pay the most attention, followed by the main bedroom and the kitchen, so focus on those first, giving them a good cleaning and ensuring they're well-staged. Once those are done, you can move on to the other bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, etc., giving them a quick once-over.
  
  
• Front Yard. This is the first thing potential buyers will see of your home, so it needs to make a good impression. Put away any stray gardening tools or other clutter, roll up the hose, and sweep off the porch and walkway. If you have at least a couple of hours, consider hosing down the driveway as well, but only if there's enough sunlight to dry it before the potential buyers show up.

Our real estate agents can show you all sorts of ways to make your home more appealing to potential buyers. Contact us, and we'll help you close quickly and get the best possible price.