If there are a thousand houses for sale then there are a thousand different people with a thousand different ways to sell their houses. This is to say that selling a house has to do mostly with one’s imagination and creativity. Of course there are common themes to attend to in any sales situation (see the article entitled: House Selling Hints), things like keeping the lawn mowed, making sure that trash is always picked up, and that the house doesn’t have pieces of shingle falling off the roof. Once these basics are seen to then we can move on to more subtle inducements to encourage a potential buyer to reach for his or her checkbook.

When a potential buyer comes to see a house he or she is there to look at the physical structure of the building, not to visit the present owners. It is best to let the real estate person show the house and to answer most common questions. Having one person (present owner) nearby is okay to answer specific queries but that person is best in another part of the house where only the real estate person has access. If there are children in the family, they and their toys should be elsewhere. This is the time to visit relatives for the afternoon; nothing is as distracting as having kids or their toys around.

Prepare the atmosphere. When you go to a mall to shop you always feel more comfortable in a store where the temperature is slightly cool, light, pleasant music is barely discernable, and there is a hint of familiar odors such as perfumes or leather products. This is an atmosphere that encourages a person to stay in this pleasant environment and to shop. We want the same thing to happen when a potential buyer enters our house. Make the atmosphere as homey and pleasant as possible; if the buyer feels "at home" in your house, then he or she is more apt to consider purchasing it. Put fresh flowers in vases in several rooms (living room and bed rooms) and if you can bake, then have a loaf of fresh baked bread sliced and open on the counter. Nothing says "home" more than the warm smell of fresh bread. Fresh brewed coffee is another familiar smell that most people appreciate, it too says, "relax, you’re home". Soft music on a radio or stereo system in the living room also invites a person to relax. Never have loud, obnoxious music that may be offensive to most people.

Pets are great and entertaining, but in a house selling situation, they steal the show every time. Inside pets should go visiting with the kids; outside pets, if they are very quiet and stay in their shelter, are okay. However, if there is an outside dog who digs and otherwise tears up the lawn, then this will hurt a potential sale. Consider boarding the animal and cleaning the area. People like to feel comfortable when they buy and clean equals comfortable.

Inside the house, make sure the furniture is clean and tidy. If the couch has seen better days, throwing an attractive cover over it will go a long way toward making it look newer. If a room is too cluttered with furniture, you may want to take out a chair or two to show that the room has sufficient floor space for walking. Sometimes it is a good idea to consult with the real estate person who signs the agreement on what their suggestions are concerning what you can do to spruce up the house for clients. A fresh set of eyes is always a good idea because we can become used to our own preferences to the point where we miss obvious opportunities for improvement.