20 Things that Should NOT be at your Front Entrance for Showings
Here’s a list of everyday things that distract or concern prospective buyers as they are coming to your front door.
- Any newspaper/phone book. If they are wet, it’s even more important that they are gone.
- Anything with wheels. This includes skateboards, roller skates/blades, scooters and bikes, etc.
- Tree Debris. Leaves, branches, etc.
- Old or overwhelming decorations. 2 weeks past the holiday is a good rule thumb to know it must come down.
- Dead plants. If it is brown, move it to another location where it can come back or let it go.
- Shoes/Clothing. If you keep your shoes near any door, have a bin for them.
- Your pet. If your dog is barking and scratching at the front door, this puts everyone on edge coming into your house.
- Broken light fixtures. Look at your fixtures. Make sure the bulbs are working, that there is no broken glass and they are not rusting or barely hanging on.
- Toys. None of them should be remotely close to this area.
- Dirty Glass. When is the last time you cleaned your front door glass?
- Pots with no plants. Either remove them or plant the plants!
- Bad locks. It drives agents crazy when someone has a lock that you need to jiggle or hold in a certain way to get it to work.
- Scuffed or scratched front doors. Look at your front door. Does it need to be touched up? Maybe repainted altogether?
- Mold or Mildew. This one concerns everyone!
- Torn or worn door mat. Remove or replace. Go as nice as you can.
- Wood-rot. Another scary item for buyers!
- Food/Drinks. No one want to see what you’ve been eating or drinking (or smoking)
- Torn or broken blinds. Look at your blinds from the outside of your house.
- Flyers. Whether it be for food delivery or a non-profit collection request, don’t have flyers left at the front door.
- Dirty furniture. If its plastic, rinse it off. If its wood or metal, wipe it down. If it’s rusted or broken, remove it.