Conduct a Successful Open House
Schedule a free
consultation with our home loan experts.
Deciding to conduct an open house is an
important decision you will need to make. Many experts advise against
it, and suggest that the property should be shown by appointment
only. If you show your property only by appointment, you will greatly
reduce some of the safety hazards associated with the Open House.
Additionally, it is far more likely that anyone coming to see your
home will be a serious prospective buyer. Many open houses attract
“lookers” that have no real intention of buying a home. The majority
of the people that will visit your home for an open house will be
wasting your time.
There are some areas that are “hot” when it comes to real estate
sales. These areas are characterized by properties that sell quickly,
numerous recent sales, and increasing home values. If your property
is located in one of these areas, you can expect numerous prospective
buyers to be in the area on weekends. In such a case, holding an open
house might be advisable since it would allow you to take advantage of
these prospective buyers.
Many owners do not have open house due to the potential safety risks.
Prior to having an open house, be sure to carefully read the safety
tips provided in the Watch Out article.
If you decide to hold an open house, the following ideas will help
your property to look its best.
-
Cut the lawn, if possible, the day
before your open house.
-
Rake leaves and remove clutter from
around the house (trash cans, papers, etc.).
-
Clean up (windows, walls, bathrooms,
kitchen, oil stains in the driveway, etc.).
-
Place fresh flowers near the front
door or a couple of planters on the porch.
-
Remove clutter from all counters,
tables, dressers, etc.
-
Clean light fixtures and insert
higher wattage bulbs.
-
Buy some potpourri. There’s
something about this stuff that people like.
-
Have copies of your flyers on hand.
-
Buy a new “Welcome” mat for the
front door.
-
Garner the support of everyone in
the family. It can work against you to try to show your home
“around”. A family member that wants to sleep, or play loud music
when a prospective buyer visits could deflect some interest. It is best for the home to be
virtually empty when you are showing it. Never be alone when
holding an open house, and never let people wander through your home
unaccompanied.
-
Open curtains to windows that bring
light in or that present a nice view.
Be advised that if you hold an open house, you will also be
visited by real estate agents. Some of these agents will try to
convince you to list with them, whereas others may simply be
accompanying their clients. You will find helpful advice on dealing
with real estate agents in the “Professionals that can help you”
article.
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