Selling? Throw a Party!

Are you confused by all the advice you read about how to prepare your home for the market? I have come up with a very simple concept that most everyone can follow. Prepare your home as if you were throwing a party.

Think about the steps you take when you entertain, and consider the buyers coming through your home as your party guests. Not into entertaining? Then, think back to a party where you were the guest and your host or hostess made you feel special.

So, how do you want to present your home to your “guests?” It should be clean, of course. Fresh towels should be put out in the bathrooms, and personal items placed out of sight. The everyday clutter like the stack of mail on the entry table, the collection of remote controls on the sofa, the pile of shoes that grows bigger every day, needs to be cleared away.

Have you ever arrived at a party and the hostess hung your coat in a closet, and you wondered how she had room for them? She anticipated you arriving with a coat and cleared out a space. That same kind of planning will make your buyers feel comfortable in your home.


What about music? You can’t possibly know what everyone likes, so try to play music that is soft and soothing, and will appeal to the greatest number of tastes.

Soft lighting created by table and floor lamps, or indirect lighting are good choices for enhancing the look of your home, and is preferable to the more harsh overhead lighting. There are flameless candles on the market now, which are perfect for creating a welcoming ambience.

The enticing smell of something baking always keeps your guests interested, and buyers are no different. Fresh cut flowers are a nice addition, adding a wonderful scent and a touch of elegance.

A successful party is one in which your guests enjoyed your home and hospitality so much they didn’t want to leave. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if buyers felt the same way?