Not Prepping the Home for Showings

Absolutely—selling a home is about creating the right experience for buyers the moment they walk through the door, and failing to prep properly is a huge missed opportunity. Beyond basic cleaning, decluttering, and tidying, you should turn on every light in the house, open all blinds and curtains, and crack windows for fresh air if weather permits. Bright homes feel bigger, more cheerful, and more welcoming, making buyers feel good and more likely to imagine themselves living there, which translates to offers. Don’t leave agents fumbling for light switches in dark rooms—it makes showings feel awkward and unprepared, hurting your chances more than you realize. Skip artificial air fresheners, vanilla candles, or cookie-baking tricks that most buyers see through and that can backfire by suggesting you’re covering something up. Instead, focus on fresh air since every home has a smell you’ve gone nose-blind to, and letting in a breeze helps the home feel clean and natural. Before every showing, do a quick 5-minute prep: lights on, shades and blinds up, windows slightly open, then step out and let buyers take it in. These little things make a big emotional difference, and emotion sells homes.