Fall is a great time to sell your home in Metro DC— in fact, the market has been heating up for months! Motivated buyers are ever-present in today’s real estate market, home prices are rising, and more importantly, properties are moving quicker than they have in the past. Listing your home now is an excellent idea as buyers may not have found “the one” on their search this summer and yours could be it!
So what comes next? Soon after listing your home in Washington DC, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Northern Virginia, or the surrounding areas, you may find buyers scheduling showings to take a tour or have an open house planned and it’s important to be prepared.
Follow these tips for securing your home for a showing or open house in the DC Metro:
Take your remotes
You may not think about it as you head out the door prior to the showing, but take your remotes with you! Don’t take the chance of an open house visitor slipping that garage door opener hanging on a hook in the garage into their pocket. Take all keys, remotes and key FOBs with you or lock them away while you’re out of the house.
Secure important documents
If you have a file cabinet or safe in your Washington DC area home, use it to house birth certificates, financial statements and tax forms, legal, medical and personal documents. The cabinet should be locked during open houses and showings to keep your personal information safe.
Put away valuables
You have likely heard this before, but it is a good rule of thumb to lock up all valuables when potential homebuyers are touring your home. Place jewelry and other expensive items into a safe or locked cabinet and take electronics—iPads, for instance—with you when you leave. Small electronics like these should not be left sitting on a nightstand.
Check all doors and windows
The real estate agent will walk through your home in Washington DC, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Northern Virginia and the surrounding areas to make sure all lights are off and your home is in good condition, but it doesn’t hurt to double check. Ensure every window and door is locked when you arrive back home, even those in the basement and on the second floor.
Opening your home to potential buyers is a big decision and as your Metro DC real estate experts, it is our priority to ensure your home is safe during a showing or open house.
Contact The Estridge Group today to discuss how we can work together to sell your home this fall!
