Nit-Picky Open House Preparations Homeowners Often Miss

An open house is the perfect opportunity to showcase your property to local real estate agents and home shoppers. To prepare for the big day, homeowners stage their place in a way to make it more appealing to guests. Staging a house is a huge endeavor. It involves deep cleaning, depersonalizing, and decluttering every square inch of the property. Because it takes so much work, there are always things homeowners overlook before the big day. But, if you’re nit-picky about these open house preparations, your home will stand out among the rest. 


Remove Pet Odors from Carpets


When you have pets, it’s easy to grow accustomed to some of their less-than-desirable attributes. After all, who cares about how they smell when your dog has such big, beautiful eyes and that cute, wagging tail? However, if potential buyers walk in and notice pet odors, they’re likely to turn around and walk back out. Remove pet odors from your carpets and rugs with an enzymatic cleaner you can find at a pet supplies store. Apply the cleaner directly to any stains and spray over carpets generally to freshen. The longer the enzyme cleaner gets to sit on the carpet, the better it will work, so don’t go about drying it too quickly. For tough stains, place a piece of cardboard over the spot after applying the enzymatic product. Right before the open house begins, freshen up carpets by sprinkling baking soda over them and vacuum. You can even add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to the baking soda for an extra pop of scent. 

Deep Clean Your Refrigerator 


As weird as it is to see strangers taking a peek inside your refrigerator, appliances are part of the house. Looking at the inside of your fridge is a normal—even practical—thing to do. Make sure they like what they see by giving your refrigerator a deep and detailed clean. Go through and toss out old food and condiments you won’t be needing. The less cluttered your refrigerator, the better. To clean it, remove shelves and bins and soak them in a solution of two tablespoons baking soda and one quart hot water. Use the same solution to wipe surfaces inside the refrigerator. The baking soda solution is best for cleaning the fridge, as it won’t leave behind any lingering fragrances for your food to absorb. After the surfaces are clean, dry them with a towel to prevent mildew and water spots. To clean your refrigerator’s drip pan, remove the base grille and soak up any excess water with towels before pulling it out and washing it with warm, soapy water. If your drip pan is fixed in place, clean it with an absorbent cloth wrapped around the head of a long-handled brush to scrub. Use a vacuum crevice attachment to remove dust from refrigerator coils, which will also help it run more efficiently. Finally, clean the exterior using a cloth dampened with mild soap and water, or a commercial stainless steel cleaner, depending on your refrigerator’s finish. Pay extra attention to the handles and any exposed sides to ensure there are no lingering smudges or fingerprints. Dry with an old T-shirt to prevent streaks. 


****An open house is a great way to drum up interest in your property, but it won’t do much good if your home isn’t at its best. Staging your home for an open house is a huge project and it’s easy to overlook the little things. However, the devil is in the details. Making sure every nook and cranny is clean and ready will help your property stand out in the market. While you may be used to pet odors, guests won’t be. Remove deep stains with an enzymatic cleaner and freshen up carpets and rugs with baking soda and a vacuum before the big day. Clean out your refrigerator and make sure it’s sparkling from the inside out. Remember: Your appliances are part of the home, too. 

Suzie Wilson our guest author, is an interior designer with more than 20 years experience. What started as a hobby (and often, a favor to friends) turned into a passion for creating soothing spaces in homes of every size and style. While her goal always includes making homes look beautiful, her true focus is on fashioning them into serene, stress-free environments that inspire tranquility in all who enter. The Ultimate Guide to Prepping Your Home for an Open House is filled with tips, tricks and other advice based on Suzie’s years of experience in interior home design that will set you up for success.