With the photo shoot done, it’s time to prepare for the open house. Whether your home is bare bones or filled with kids running around, home showings are hard to juggle. Whatever your situation, these handy tips can help you stay sane and get your home sold.

If Your Home Is Vacant

Make it easy for buyers to see the possibilities.

• Breathe life into empty spaces. Most buyers need help in the imagination department. Give them a hand by lightly staging the most important rooms. Can’t afford to stage your whole home? No problem! Focus your efforts on the living room and master bedroom, then add a few accessories to your master bath and kitchen counters.
   
• Hire a few helping hands. Nothing’s worse than a home that screams “nobody lives here” because the grass is knee-high and there’s dust everywhere. Budget for basics like lawn and cleaning services while you’re away to ensure your home looks like it’s getting the TLC it deserves.

If Your Home Is Occupied

Strike a balance between “at home” and “for sale.” Even if you’re having at least one open house, it’s best to be prepared for the unexpected.

• Make a daily to-do list. Surprise showings always seem to happen when your home’s a complete wreck. Reduce last-minute panic by putting things away as soon as you’re done with them and creating a checklist of simple tasks to knock out before you leave every morning. That way, you’re always ready for guests.
   
• Pack up the pets. Man’s best friend can be your home deal’s worst enemy. Take the dogs or cats for a joyride or send them to Grandma’s house so buyers can focus on your home’s best features.
   
• Give buyers some space. Separating yourself from the place you’ve called home can be hard. But if you want to make a deal, you’ve got to give buyers time and space to fall in love with your home. Be flexible about scheduling showings and don’t make buyers step around you—or your feelings—when they visit.
   
• Tackle the toys. If you have kiddos, ask them to temporarily choose a few favorite toys to keep in their room, then store the rest in plastic bins. If they get bored with their selections, you can always rotate toys in and out.
   
• Enlist help from the kids. Give Junior a job to do! It’s a great way to teach the value of hard work. Have a little fun and build big motivation by running timed practice drills. And don’t forget to recognize a job well done.

Try Your Best . . . but Be Human

There'll be days you just can’t get everything put away and make it out the door on time. If you get a call for a showing, tell your agent what happened so they can prepare the buyer ahead of time. Just don’t miss an opportunity to get your home seen.