[Barefoot]

I've had four house showings in the past four days. You'd think my house could stay pristine between showings, but not with two dogs and a shedding cat! The dogs roll in leaves, come inside and shake, and the white carpet isn't white any more. The dogs drink water and slobber over the kitchen floor .. more work to wash the floor again.
Fireboy comes home from work and sheds his fireboy duds and size 18 shoes in surprise locations. And so it goes. Anyone want three geriatic animals? I put them on freecycle, but no takers.

Suggestions for showing your house (from a former realtor):

- Your home should look like a model home, like no-one lives there.
- Put away your figurines, your lace doilies, your stuffed parrot, your
baseball hat collection, your family pictures. No-one but you wants
to see them.
- "Curb appeal" is important, make sure your entry way is inviting.
- Don't stuff junk in your closets, purchasers look there. Get rid of
it or store it in the garage.
- Open the drapes and turn on all the lights.
- Buy some fresh flowers for the inside of the house and hanging
baskets for your back deck.
- I can't emphasize fresh and clean enough.
- Go away during showings and take your animals and kids with you.
- If you must remain in the house, do not talk to the prospective
purchasers. You are paying an agent to do that job.
- Appeal to all senses ... have soft music playing, the air lightly
fragranced by cinnamon/clove spices simmering on the stove.
- Make sure your realtor has provided colour feature sheets for
purchasers to take with them with flattering pictures of the house
and details of all improvements and renovations. Attach a copy of
the survey if you have one.
- Make sure your realtor provides this listing information on an
internet site.
- The biggest mistake that owners make is overpricing their home.
- Don't overprice with the idea that "people can make offers". If your
house is overpriced, people won't look at it, so how can they
make offers? Then your home will become "stale" and people will
avoid it, thinking something is wrong with it.

Good luck all! It is somehow comforting to know that others are going through this same thing. But you have a light at the end of the tunnel .. TV!! Wish I could be there full time. I'm working on Sam Hass and Hu to adopt me.