Real estate agents often use open houses as a way to market for-sale properties. Your REALTOR may want to do a few open houses to bring potential buyers into your property. This is a great way for interested people to see the inside of your home without having to schedule a showing. A real estate open house is your home’s big first impression, so it’s worth spending some time preparing for it. Consider this blog yor real estate open house checklist!
Take Care of Minor Repairs
Before listing your home, make sure it’s ready to sell. A little fixing up can go a long way. Repair small things like cracked tiles, leaky faucets or creaky floorboards. There’s little to no chance that you’ll get the best value out of your home if there are obvious repairs that need to be made. Buying a home is a huge investment, so you better believe potential buyers are looking at your home with a critical eye. Adding a fresh coat of paint throughout the home is one of the easiest things you can do to make a great impression. It is also smart to tackle outdoor spaces, such as landscaping, to give your home a great curb appeal the minute they pull up.
Declutter & Deep Clean
The next step to preparing for an open house is getting rid of your extra “stuff” you have lying around. Take some time to sell, donate, throw away, or store items that you don’t need. Not only will this make your home feel more spacious, but eliminating things you don’t frequently use will help make moving easier. If the house has too many pieces of furniture and knick knacks, it’s hard for potential buyers to see the home’s natural features. After you declutter, it is time to deep clean your home. Your property should be in pristine condition when you have an open house. With open houses, every part of your home is going to be on display. That means that every part of your home needs to be cleaned. It may be worthwhile to hire a professional cleaning service to ensure you get a good deep clean. From fan blades to baseboards, and everything in between… make sure your home has been cleaned from top to bottom before your open house.
Remove Personal Items
Too much clutter can cost you a sale. Box up approximately half of the items in your home and move them to your new home or into a storage unit. Homebuyers want to walk into the house and visualize it as their new home and personal items, such as family photos, diplomas, and memorabilia, can limit homebuyers’ visualizations of your home being theirs. Open houses can make people feel like they’re intruding on someone’s life if the home isn’t staged properly. It is also important to hide your valuables when having open houses. Important documents, cash, and medications should be out of sight and stored somewhere secure. Strangers will be entering your home and are likely to look in drawers and cabinets, so it is smart to remove items that may be valuable to you and your family.
Spread the Word
Once you’ve organized, cleaned, and repaired, you’ll want to make sure the listing itself reflects that. One of the hardest parts of having an open house is getting people there. A great online listing is the best way to get potential buyers through the door for your open house. Make sure your REALTOR has your open house listed in the multiple listing service (MLS), as well as on all the major real estate portals and social channels. Your real estate agent should also help you market the event with tools like yard signs and word-of-mouth. Spreading the word that you’re having an open house is critical to ensuring you have an amazing showing of potential buyers!
Open House Etiquette
On the day of the open house, there are a few things you should do inside the home before people step foot in the door. Open all the curtains and blinds to allow sunlight to enter and make the space brighter. Removing all vehicles and cars from the garage and driveway will allow homebuyers to see the storage in the garage and the total, complete view of your home from the outside. How a home smells is one of the most important considerations in ensuring a timely sale. The first step to a good-smelling home is to get rid of any odor. Remove all evidence of pets and animals in your home. Not everyone is a pet person, so it’s smart to thoroughly disinfect your home to remove any trace of pets, pet hair, and pet odors. Baking cookies just before an open house to make a home feel cozy and welcoming is also a great idea.. If you don’t have time to bake cookies, try diffusing essential oils instead. Avoid using strong scents that can have a polarizing effect, such as patchouli, sandalwood, or ylang-ylang. Instead, go with relaxing and simple scents such as lavender, grapefruit, rose, or bergamot. Finally, if you are not selling the home yourself, it is smart to leave the property. Let your real estate agent handle the actual event. You don’t need to be present during open house hours because buyers will feel uncomfortable voicing concerns or asking questions if they feel you’re listening.
One valuable takeaway from an open house is being able to hear what people think about the price and features. Collect names and contact information from everyone who visits and contact them afterward to see what they thought of the house. Putting your house on the market can be a stressful experience, especially when you consider the added pressure of inviting strangers into your home during an open house. Luckily, real estate agents are experts in the entire listing process. If you need help in the home selling process, contact Marsh Landing Realty today! Visit our website here: https://secure.sdjax.com/~mlccrealty2/ or call us at 904-285-6514.
