When it comes to making a good first impression, the living room carries a ton of weight with potential buyers. After all, that’s where most people spend time trying to relax after a long day. So, buyers could run the other way if they stumble across a living room with dead bugs or an off-the-wall collection. Here, Realtor.com offers expert advice on what to do to your living room before showing your house.
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Make sure every corner of the room is pest-free
If you viewed a house where hundreds of dead June bugs were piled up inside a living room window screen—about an inch deep all the way around—that likely would be an instant turnoff.
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Pack your precious collections away, no matter how harmless they may seem to you
Those sad clown paintings on your living room walls might strike you as hilarious, but a potential seller will slowly back out the door. Anything too thematic should be removed from your living room, and keep in mind, the more obscure the collection, the creepier it is. Victorian dolls are an obvious no, but even a huge array of decorative items can be off-putting to buyers.
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Make sure there are no surprise smells
Without question, experts list bad—or just unexpected—odors as the No.1 living room turn off. The best scent in your house? Nothing. It clearly communicates that the house is clean and odor-free.
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Hide all evidence of pets
Although you might not mind the fact that your beloved dog or cat shed on your sofa, potential buyers likely won’t be as understanding. While they can always vacuum once they’ve moved in, some might feel they will never get up all of that hair. Also, make absolutely sure there are no fleas in the house. Potential buyers might not be so happy when they have to flea-bomb their cars after visiting your home…and you can probably forget about them making an offer.
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Let in the light
Light is the No. 1 seller of homes, so be sure there are no heavy curtains blocking the sun. Leaving sheers up could lead to your house sitting on the market for a few weeks, vs. getting a wealth of offers after a single open house.
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Remove any personal photos
Even a photo on the living room wall of you and your family at Disney World can be a major turnoff to buyers. It doesn’t matter even if the photos look professional. For example, touring a home where many of the family photos are Star Wars-themed (like family members in full movie regalia) could be very awkward for buyers.