Well, it’s that time of year again. Daylight savings time has ended and now many of us leave for work in the dark and return in the dark as well. With the sun setting earlier, homes on the market will have more showings in the dark. Some people worry that having showings in the evening are not ideal since the buyers can’t appreciate the curb appeal of a home. There are a few things you can do to help to make your home more appealing. If you have a home for sale around Locust Grove, VA, here are some tips to consider when prepping your home for showings.

1. Light up the exterior. Make your home more appealing by making it easy for the buyers to spot your house. Turn on the porchlights, motion lights, and any other outdoor lighting you have in the front and back of the home. You can even add pathway lights towards the front door to make an unfamiliar walk easier.

2. Clear away potential tripping hazards. Usually a showing will have at least two people (the buyer and buyer’s agent) if not more. People tend to clump together when looking at a home, so stash things like hoses or kid toys out of walking paths.

3. Keep decorations simple. Use decorations to attract attention to the great features of your home and make your home more appealing. For example, set out a table and chair set near the bay window. Put some battery operated candles on the table to draw attention to the window. Have a nice backyard patio? Use string lights along a fence to draw attention. Selling during the holidays? Turn on those Christmas lights, but try to keep them uniform in color.

4. Turn lights on in each room. If your home lacks some outdoor lighting, turn on all the lights on the inside. They will help to illuminate your home from the road. Once inside, buyers won’t have to stumble up dark staircases or hallways searching for light switches if all the lights are already up and running.

5. Make inside feel welcoming. Nothing is more comforting then entering a warm, cozy home from the cold, dark outdoors. Make sure your home is clean and clutter free. Have a showing after dinner time? Make sure to clean up the dishes (or stash them in the dishwasher) and use a fragrance warmer to disperse a clean scent throughout your home. We might all love roasted broccoli for dinner, but not so much the scent.

Ready to get your home on the market? Or maybe you just want to learn some more about what you can do in order to get it ready to sell. Either way, contact Sean Jones at 540-360-5166 to discuss your home selling needs.