Everyone who holds an open house for themselves always has high expectations. And that's exactly what many homeowners are doing when selling their home without the help of a real estate professional. However, all too many times, I see "open houses gone bad."
An open house is one of the best ways to attract potential buyers. But if you don't know what you're doing, it can go terribly wrong. Many people who have attended open houses think it will be a piece of cake to have one for themselves. And this is where the common open house mistakes begin. Therefore, I have some open house tips and advice I'd like to share with you so you won't be on the list of another "open house gone bad."
Successful Open House Tips:
* Never host an open house alone - This is mainly for safety issues. Safety comes in numbers. Therefore, have a real estate professional, family member or friend come help you out.
* Put away your valuables - We always hope that we can trust those coming into our open house. But, there will usually be someone with "sticky fingers" if there are valuables, such as jewelry or money or prescription drugs, lying around.
* Consider the beverages you will serve - Some agents offer alcoholic beverages at open houses and many homeowners follow suit. However, this is not always a good practice when you consider the liability. Consider the consequences of someone leaving your home that gets in an accident after drinking your alcoholic beverages. Or if you see someone has had a little too much to drink, would you feel comfortable asking them for their keys or to take a cab? This could become an uncomfortable situation.
* What food to serve - When considering your food and beverage options, think about what might end up on the carpet or furniture and plan accordingly.
* Where to advertise your open house - When advertising for your open house, consider mailing personal invitations to your neighbors. They often have family and friends who are interested in moving soon. And add an open house sign in front of your home with the date and times of the open house.
Please stay safe when you hold your open house. That is definitely the most important part.
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