If you’re planning to host an open house, you need to depersonalize your home and clean thoroughly. Make sure to wipe down baseboards, windows, and floors. Move all shoes and valuables out of sight and put them in a safe place. It’s best to have your home as spotless as possible, and make sure to arrange flowers in appropriate places. After all, it’s the prospective buyer’s first impression of your home.
Make a list of all the open houses you plan to hold. Most listing websites let you search by date and location. You can even create lists on your phone. Make sure to check your lists the morning of the open house. You don’t want to miss one! Some homes will be under contract before you know it, so double check beforehand. If there are no sign-in sheets, it’s too early to do that. Regardless of how thorough you’ve made your list, keep a few things in mind to make your open house a success.
Fix any red flags. Most buyers won’t overlook major flaws when viewing your home, so make sure to repair them. If you don’t fix these issues, the buyer will pass over your house and will instead make an offer that’s much lower than its market value. As a seller, you can’t do this for every open house, but by fixing red flags before holding an open house, you’ll get more offers.
Clear your house of any valuables and unnecessary items. Telling a potential buyer that the dishwasher isn’t included in the price will only make him want it even more. Also, make arrangements for your pets outside of the house. Keeping pets out of the house is best for everyone, as they might distract potential buyers. Remember that it’s important to make a sale because you don’t want to have seller’s remorse.
Clean everything! The last thing you want to do is make the house look dirty! Open houses are a great way to showcase your home and showcase your real estate skills. Be available to chat with buyers and generate leads. To make yourself a valuable asset, leave your phone behind and focus on engaging conversations with people. Set up a sign-in sheet at the front door and make yourself available to answer questions. Place your business cards and brochures in prominent locations and make sure you’re able to hand them out after building rapport with visitors.
Stage your home. If you’re selling in Manhattan, one listing agent suggests staging. The extra room can be used as an office, nursery, or man cave. By staging, potential buyers can envision it as a new space. In addition, a listing agent’s tips are also applicable to other neighborhoods. You may be surprised to learn that some potential buyers simply can’t imagine themselves living in your home. But if they can imagine themselves in it, they’ll be more likely to make an offer.
