Charleston, SC Home Showings Keep Busy Households Hopping

Selling your home quickly and for the highest price possible demands that the Charleston showings be proactively appealing: that is, more than just a passive display of the residential “merchandise.” To make the most of the advantageous situation that any showing or open house should be, both you and your Realtor^® must adopt the approach of any successful salesperson—namely, being certain every potential customer is shown the best aspects of the product. When it comes to Charleston area home showings, that means staging.

Most of the advice you’ll read about staging follows the same general formula: organizing rooms; maintaining exterior landscaping; updating aged features; eliminating clutter. What’s sometimes missing from those guides is a practical problem: a prescription for showings when the home in question is currently housing a family busy with schoolwork, after-school extracurriculars and full time professional obligations—in other words, modern life!

No matter how unlikely it might seem, for families whose schedules are already overloaded (and then some), proactive showings are indeed possible! Here are some of the proven ways busy families keep their Charleston homes in peak shape:

 Neutralize Décor: To maintain a home livable for a busy family at the same time it’s ready to display requires muting some of the practical as well as decorative elements. It’s a delicate balance that means first removing idiosyncratic design elements, then also keeping as many personal items as possible out of sight but readily accessible when needed. It’s a room-by-room effort, but when properly balanced, most of the family’s comfort zone can be preserved at the same time the home is ready for showcasing at a moment’s notice.

Spring Cleaning All Year-Round: As parents know, a busy home is genuinely tough to keep clean—yet, sparkling cleanliness gives visitors the sense of newness that prevents common objections from forming in prospects’ minds (fears that updates are called for; feelings that unseen mechanical issues could be lurking, etc.). The solution is one comprehensive deep-cleaning session followed by a regular once-over every week without fail. It’s a regimen that makes pre-showing cleanups quick, easy, and effective. For many busy families, it may be realistic to consider bringing in a housekeeping service once a week while showings are in prospect. 

Shrink Living Spaces: In larger homes, one way to minimize the amount of effort showings require is to somewhat confine everyday living activities to designated areas. If everyone is used to occupying the living room, den, and game room, see if you can make one or more of the areas off-limits (especially during weekdays). This will allow you to preserve staging efforts and reduce a lot of last-minute scrambling.  

Showings in Charleston, SC are a key part of selling your home—as are a great marketing plan and well-designed listing—which is where I come in! If you’re planning to list your home for showings this fall, contact me as soon as possible to start the pre-marketing planning that can help you and your busy house S-E-L-L!

Interested in selling your Charleston area home? Visit: www.jeffcookrealestate.com
Interested in buying a Charleston area home? Visit: www.discovercharlestonareahomes.com

-Jeff Cook

Jeff Cook Real Estate