AN OPEN INVITATION: An open house can be a welcome mat for potential buyers

Depending where you are in the real estate equation, the concept of an open house can be at once thrilling and terrifying.
For the buyer, it can be the chance to get to see the inside of a home. And not just at any time, but spiffed up for company, dressed in its finery.
For the seller, it can be a mixed bag. Getting the house ready to show can be a task unto itself, making certain everything is in tiptop shape. But it can be an exciting time because a buyer might walk through the door and fall in love with the house and make an offer that day.
It can and does happen.
Realtors look at the process as having more than just one advantage for buyers, sellers and agents. It gets people to see the house and gives buyers and agents a chance to meet.
“One is exposure of the property,” said , Realtors. “The other is they meet people. Not everyone that comes in is looking for that particular house. You hope they love the house and are willing to write an offer on it.”
But one of the most important things that can happen is the buyer and the agent present will develop a relationship that will eventually connect the right home with the right person.
That is something that happens quite frequently.

OPEN IT AND THEY MIGHT COME
Unfortunately for the sellers and their agent, holding an open house is no guarantee of attendance.
Many things can factor into the number of potential buyers who stroll through the door.
Weather, of course, is a variable that can have major impact. Rain is a real turnoff — it can be a literal and figurative damper for the day. Home buyers generally don’t brave nasty elements to look at an open house.
The flip side, of course, is that people who are on a timetable or who are highly interested in the home will dodge the drops and make their way to the open house, regardless of the rain or the shine.
The open house also gives buyers a chance to look at the neighborhood during the day, often on a weekend.
A drive-by viewing at night or during the week often gives a much different view of the surrounding area. The weekend often gives potential buyers a chance to see how the neighborhood functions when people are home.

WORD OF MOUTH
The buyer for the home may not be the one who walks through the door during an open house.
A few years back, a coordinated series of open houses drew the attention of a large lunch group from varied socio-economic backgrounds. Three cars ferried the group through several different homes in a section of the city.
At the time, no one in the sizeable lot were in the market for a home.
But this lunch bunch saw many homes and got many ideas.
As with most groups of friends, word traveled to those outside the circle of munchers and got to the ears of several folks interested in purchasing homes in the neighborhood.
Sort of a “six degrees of separation” connection.
The friends of friends were able to capitalize on the information the viewers had gathered and word of the homes spread.
And that’s really one of the basic elements of the open house — spreading the word.

REACH OUT AND TOUCH
Allowing potential buyers the opportunity to physically be in the space and “get the feel” for a house can make a major difference in the outcome of the real estate process.
Being inside the home makes it real. Buyers have a better idea of the actual colors and shades of things (which of course can be changed on most things but some are permanent). Buyers can see the scale of the windows versus the true size of the room. Buyers can see the difference an extra foot makes in the height of the ceiling. Buyers also have a chance to see the home in daylight and how the sun (or the rain) can have an impact on the overall feeling of the home.

SHINY AND NEW
This feel factor can be extremely important for new homes.
“I would think that new construction would be more important,” said Realtors. “A lot of people come through new construction to look at different floor plans and what’s the latest in appliances and design.”
Builders tend to try new things on homes and are often able to incorporate new building styles, materials and technology that might not be found in older homes or might need to be retrofitted.
With new construction in several parts of the greater metropolitan area of New Orleans, potential home owners can look at the offerings of different builders in different configurations and communities.

FOR THE SELLER
Getting ready for an open house is much the same as getting ready to put the house on the market.
Just remember a few concepts and make the most of the moment:
• Declutter the space as much as possible, and that includes closets and cupboards.
• Make sure the lights are working and on. Don’t forget about another source of light — windows.
• Rid the house of odors and try baking cookies or light an odor-reducing candle. Just be careful of placement and of an overpowering scent.
• Put the pooch away (or any pet for that matter), for their protection and the protection of buyers.
• Secure the valuables (as in take them with you).
• Protect prescription drugs (again, take them with you).
• Make yourself scarce.
An experienced Realtor can help with any of these and also provide additional suggestions for getting ready.

FOR THE BUYER
Headed to an open house is simple enough, right?
Well, think again.
Try to be best prepared when you go with these ideas:
• Research in advance to find which properties are open through The Times-Picayune Classifieds and Sunday community news sections (Picayunes), as well as, westbankagents.com . Find out if the house has enough bedrooms, the right price, etc.
• Make a list of open houses and work the list. A little forethought can save time and gas.
• Bring a camera in case you find the perfect house. Ask the showing agent if you can take photos to remember certain things about the house.
• Ask questions and get to know the agent. This might not be your dream home, but the Realtor could be your fairy godmother or godfather in disguise, knowing a house that might be your castle.
• And about those shoes, wear comfortable shoes that do not scuff or leave marks. There will be walking and standing involved so be prepared.
• Bring a tape measure and record any figures that might be important. If Aunt Mary’s china cabinet won’t fit in the dining room, that might be a deal breaker. But then again, maybe it would work in the hall?

FOR THE HOUSE
Sometimes Realtors throughout the metro area work together to offer coordinated open houses in several areas. Watch for these.
The Times-Picayune runs a special listing of open houses on the back of this section that can help buyers take advantage of being part of the action.
Head for an open house or four today. Your dream home is waiting.