Prepare For Open House
Here are some important tips for holding an open house.
Make a good first impression. You want to freshen up the landscaping and exterior paint, plus consider purchasing a few new items, including a garage door, mailbox, exterior door and house numbers. Clean the driveway and walkways, and get the cars out of the driveway and from in front of the house.
Clean, clean, clean. The property has to be in pristine condition when you have the open house. That could mean hiring professional house cleaners, having the windows washed and having the carpets cleaned.
Stage your home with furniture and accessories. If you’re living in the house, consider some small touches such as fresh towels in the bathroom, vases of flowers and a few well chosen accessories. With furniture, less is often more. Wild colored walls should be painted and, depending on your budget, you may want to paint kitchen cabinets, add new hardware or change faucets.
Get rid of clutter. If the house has too many pieces of furniture and knickknacks, it’s hard for potential buyers to see the home’s features. Sellers should start packing before the house goes on the market, making the home as sparse and streamlined as possible.
Stay in the background if you’re there If a real estate agent is organizing the open house, the sellers should not be present. If you’re doing your own open house, you want to be as professional and unobtrusive as possible so visitors will feel free to imagine themselves living in the house and discuss its flaws without fear of offending you.
Listen to feedback. One valuable takeaway from an open house is being able to hear what people think about the price and features. If six neighbors think the home is overpriced, it probably is. Collect names and contact information from everyone who visits and contact them afterward to see what they thought of the house.
