Living in a house that’s for sale isn’t the most ideal situation in the world. It can be hard to balance regular home life with showings, especially if you have children or pets, but there are a few things you can do to keep your house show-ready at all times. For instance, pack away items that don’t get daily use. You’ll be packing them up later for your move anyway. Get family members into the habit of making their beds and tossing dirty clothes into a hamper or basket. While it’s important to be prepared for a viewing at any moment, however, sometimes you find yourself in the middle of a post-lunch, pre-laundry home and a request to view the house in half an hour. Don’t fret! Keep your sanity with our show-ready checklist. Whether you have fifteen minutes or an hour, there’s plenty of time to make the house presentable.
- Tidy up any unmade beds
- Throw clutter and laundry into a basket and put into the car
- Empty all garbage
- Close toilet seats
- Give counters a quick wipe down
- Turn on all lights and open curtains to let in natural light
- Do all of the 15-minute items, and…
- Vacuum
- Sweep and spot mop
- Clean all glass and mirrors
- Clean toilets and wipe down tubs
- Clear off the kitchen counters
- Wipe down cabinet fronts
- Sweep and tidy front porch or stoop
