THE GUIDE TO SELLING YOUR HOME

Step 9 - Inspections

You've cleaned up inside and outside, add a few last minute touches on the day of your inspections:

• Buyers are often concerned with how much light a home receives. Open all curtains and blinds, and consider using some artificial lighting in very dark rooms
• Make sure your home feels comfortable. If it's cold, heat the rooms, especially if you have an open fire. If it's hot, make sure your home is cool: if you only have fans, consider borrowing an air-conditioner
• Put out flowers in vases, particularly near the front door where first impressions are made
• A home which smells beautiful will seem much more attractive to buyers. Make sure your home is properly aired. Put out potpourri, or even bake something in the oven the morning of the inspection. Avoid incense and other strong aromas

When your home is ready, leave the agent and the prospective buyers to do their thing. You are likely to have several inspections before you receive an offer, so don't worry if it takes a few weeks for real interest to be shown in your property. Once you have a keen buyer, negotiation comes into play next with your agent playing the middleman between you and the prospective buyer.