The Open House Do's and Dont's for Home Sellers

The Open House Do's and Dont's for Home Sellers

Open houses seem simple enough. Pick a day and have potential home buyers view your property, right?

Yes, but let's make some key distinctions to ensure a successful open house.

Do:

Do confirm that the open house date and time does not conflict with a major holiday, sporting event, or other big events, especially community events. Everyone intuitively knows that holding an open house on Christmas day is a bad idea, but so is an open house on Superbowl Sunday. Also, big travel weekends can put a damper on your open house.

Don't:

Don't tell your broker or real estate agent that you don't want any signs put up. How is anyone driving the neighborhood going to know your house is being held open? In fact, even if someone found an advertisement on-line or otherwise for your open house, they may get frustrated and give up on viewing your property due to trouble locating your house. Open house signs let them know they are on the right track. On a side note, it's a good idea to have your agent install a yard sign if you don't already have one.

Do:

Do leave your home during the open house. It is uncomfortable to have the existing homeowners in a home during a showing. That negative feeling is transposed to their feeling of your house, defeating the entire purpose of getting a buyer to fall in love with the property. And when a current owner is present during a showing, buyers find it harder to imagine the place as their own.

Don't:

Don't leave your pets on the premises. Barking dogs can be annoying, and some people don't agree with living in a home along side anything that isn't human. It's O.K. if you're a dog or cat person, but it's also O.K. if your potential buyers are not. Plus, any exotic pets like snakes and rats can unnecessarily freak someone out.

Do:

Do clean and tidy the home up as best as possible. An hour of straightening up can be the difference between selling your home, or not selling it. It could even be the difference in how much a buyer offers.

Don't:

Don't leave personal effects around the house. Jewelry and any other personal items should be securely put away in a safe place. Or take it with you. Your agent or any other agent cannot focus on selling your house and act as security at the same time. And many times buyers will bring their whole family. One agent cannot keep track of everyone. And as we all know small children love to pick things up.

Do:

Do open all drapes, curtains and blinds. A bright open house is much more inviting and invoking than a stuffy cave-like house. If it's a comfortable temperature and the weather permits, opening windows can add to this positive effect.

Don't:

Don't call your agent during the open house to "check up on him or her". Don't drive by. Don't spy. Don't send family members of friends to see how it's going. These kinds of activities can take the focus off of selling the home.

Do:

Do have fresh flowers in the home during the open house. Or you can even bake cookies before the open house to instill the homey aroma. A smell can make someone fall in love with a woman or a man, why not your house?

Don't:

Don't be stingy with available open house dates. Yes, it's a pain in the you-know-what to prepare the home and leave for a couple hours, but the more buyers your property is exposed to, the better chance you will sell your house, and the better chance you will get more money for it.