Real Estate Tips

Open House: To Hold Or Not To Hold

Whether you are selling your home on your own or with the help of a REALTOR®, setting the stage for an Open House can make the difference between a sale and a prospective buyer walking right out the door.

What is an Open House?

Guess what? It’s more than putting up signs with arrows pointing every which way and baking cookies so the house smells good.

An Open House is a marketing tool. Some agents will tell you that Open Houses do not sell homes. And they would be right. It is rare that a prospect walks in off the street, falls in love with your home and makes an offer on it immediately. What an Open House does is allow people (and yes, neighbors!) to walk through your home in a somewhat relaxed atmosphere.

People driving in the area may see the signs and decide to take a look. Neighbors taking a walk may decide to pop in for a peep. Sure, you get the “looky-loos” who just want to see what kind of furniture you have, but you also get the chance to widen your marketing base and help the sale of your home. The neighbor might suddenly remember that Bob at work wanted a short commute time and loved the neighborhood. And that couple who happened to be driving by might have friends that would just love your backyard oasis.
It’s all about getting more people to know about your property. Period.

Are Open Houses safe?

They can be. It depends on the circumstances.

If you live way out on the end of a dirt road, perhaps a “normal” Open House on a weekend wouldn’t work for you. Talk to your agent about setting up a Open House on a weekday evening and inviting REALTORS® and any prospective buyers. If you have valuables, put them away. Take them over to a loved ones’ house or store them where you know they will be protected. Don’t hold the Open House by yourself. Have another family member or a friend hang around to hand out flyers or answer questions of prospects.
Safety should be of utmost importance, so if you truly have worries about personal safety, then forgo the Open House. What next?

Holding an Open House

If you decide to hold an Open House, or have your agent hold an Open House, great! Now that the decision has been made, it’s time to get to work. Ask your agent what can be done to the property to get it ready.
Or, if you’re selling on your own, here are some suggestions:

• Sweep the front walkway and driveway. Pull weeds. Park your cars down the street. (Make your home as appealing as possible to those who drive up)
• Open up all drapes and blinds. Turn on all the lights. (Make your home seem as bright and cheerful as possible)
• Pick up odds and ends in all rooms. Vacuum or sweep all floors. (You want people to look at your home, not be diverted by dust or piles of toys)
• Have lots of “stuff”? Think about having a garage sale or putting things in storage while you try to sell your home. Too much clutter makes the rooms appear smaller and makes it harder for buyers to picture their furnishings in your home.
• Make the house cozy. Cold outside? Turn on the heat a little. Hot? Put on the air conditioning. You want your home to be a shelter from the outdoors. Turn on some music...not too loud and nothing that may turn some people off. Perhaps easy listening or jazz.
• Provide refreshments. Cold tea or soda is a good choice, though you may want to keep it to drinks that won’t stain your flooring if something gets spilled. Cookies and crackers are great to nibble on. Don’t forget the napkins!
• Appeal to their noses! If you decide to serve store-bought cookies, try heating up a tablespoon of vanilla in the oven, or a bit of apple cider in a pan.
• Have a Guest Log and a pen handy. (You want to follow up with everyone who comes through to find out if they might be interested, if they know anyone who might be interested, or if they have some feedback on the home itself)
• Have a flyer made up listing some of the fine points of your home. (You may be busy talking with one family when another breezes in...let the flyer do all the talking for you when you can’t)
• Keep the front door open and be ready with a smile on your face! The next person who walks in just might be your buyer!

Article Source: http://www.constant-content.com & Tina McAllister