Throwing a successful open house is not a particularly easy task if you have never done one before. In addition to cleaning and staging, you also need to market correctly so that plenty of motivated buyers show up. Here are a few steps that you can take to make sure that your next open house goes off without a hitch.
Perfect Timing
No one wants to spend countless hours getting ready for an open house only to have no one show up. In addition to keeping an eye on popular holidays, you should also take a look at other major events that might distract potential buyers. Playoffs, championship games, and local events will all have an impact on how much traffic you get.
Preparing Your Home Requires More Than Cleaning
Staging a home is a delicate process, and deep cleaning is just one of the many steps you must carry out. You also need to depersonalize the home as much as possible so that your visitors can see themselves living there. Another issue that many sellers never even consider is the security of their personal belongings. Anything of value such as medication and jewelry should be out of your home before any strangers step through the door.
Work With a Professional
Even though you know your property better than anyone, you will most likely want to step out of the home on the day of the open house. Experienced real estate agents, such as those you can find at
Century 21 Town & Country, know exactly what buyers are looking for, and they can highlight the best features of your home. Many realtors have their clients fill out a questionnaire about different features of the home in case the visitors have any specific questions.
The Big Fixes
Unless you plan on completely renovating your home to boost its value, you will most likely only want to carry out a few key fixes. Options such as adding a fresh layer of paint, sprucing up the lawn, and changing out the light fixtures can actually increase the value of your home without spending too much money. You also want to be sure that all of the key mechanical systems are working flawlessly. That includes the HVAC system, plumbing, insulation, electrical outlets, and appliances.
With the proper planning, an open house doesn't need to be a stressful event. Every little bit of extra time and money you spend getting your home ready will improve your chances of selling the home quickly and at a fair price.
