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Tips On Hosting A Great OpenHouse!!

Here are some great tips that I have found especially beneficial for Hosting Open Houses

1. Always have low back ground music on, (something classical) think Disney movie music, it appeals to everyone sounds familiar and leaves an impression. People associate memories to music.

2. Clean I can't say it enough, get rid of any garbage under sinks or bathrooms, we don't want any odors.

3. Sweet scents such as cinnamon, are welcoming but don't over do it.

4. Soft lighting even though its during the day.

5. Fresh flowers are appealing to everyone have a couple placed throughout the home.

6. take EVERYTHING of the kitchen counter !

7. matching towels in the bathroom neatly folded.

8. De-clutter every room less is more!

9. Take Pets off property.

10. Provided color Pamphlets for people to take home.

And keep them short no more then 1.5 hours! Make people come not feel there is no rush! Happy Open houses!

Posted by Giselle Morley- Vezer on 05/06/2007 11:15 AM

Comments (16)

openhouse, tips

16 Comments on Tips On Hosting A Great OpenHouse!!

MAY

2007

I've never heard of a 1.5 hour Open House. I guess it would work if that timeframe became the local custom. But if everyone else is open for 3 hours (the norm), I doubt home owners would want to be the only one not Open for 3 hours.

Great Tips Giselle! I especially like the low back ground music & subtle but sweet scents avenues.

I never thought about the music before. That sounds like a great tip. I'll be sure to try it!!

How about:

Baking cookies

Buying fresh flowers

Putting cinnamon and vanilla in a tea kettle on the stove

Fragrant candles (on second thought, skip this one - once I blew out a candle and got wax all over the client's furniture and wall . . . I was able to clean it up, but I realized what a dumb idea candles were).

One thing I have found to work well is a later in the day open house, I have teamed up with RE agents and schedule the open house say 3-5 or 2-4 rather than 1-3. Why? Because most people have limited time to go see all the houses they want to on a sunday between 1-3 so if you are open later that will be the last stop of the day.Most open houses in our area are 12-2 or 1-3.

Hi Ardell

I know others do, do them longer, but think about it, time frame your openhouse to others around your area, for example if the custom is from 12 - 3 then why not do 1 -2:30 your right in the middle and make your openhouses informative that peolpe will know that yours are worth going too another tip is work with a mortgage specialist to give you a sheet of rates, and a break down of what a typical mortgage would be on the house your selling! A person has to always adjust what they feel works best in their market if your finding that your openhouses are jammed pack from start to finish then of course no don't shorten them, but if you find long periods of lull then that means people are not in a hurry to go to yours, and that time could be spent somewhere else. thanks for the comment! have a great one, giselle

Actually Leo, that is a great idea, it makes your openhouses different and stands out, the key is not to waste your time, if your market is jam packed with openhouses then yes doing it later in the day may be just the right thing to set you apart, just be careful your not too late that people are tired and done with the openhouses and have already gone home. I guess timing is key, so yours sounds really good! I have done later ones when I ve done mulitple opens and yes i still get traffic. thanks for the tip, giselle

Giselle

How do you find open houses in Prince George? In Calgary they vary so greatly in terms of turnout...

Hi Deborah

Great tips, just make sure its the clients that do the baking!! kidding! Yes sweet smells work great! Men love the baking smell! Got to watch the candles! I heard of an agent that lite a fire in the fireplace and caused a chimney fire, lots of smoke damage etc, also another agent turned on a gas fireplace the element wasn't adjusted right and it melted the controls underneath. So if you want any of those thing done which they do add to the mood, have your home owner do it before he leaves! Great tips too! Giselle

Hi Deborah

Hi Jon,

Openhouses in Prince George are basically only done on Sunday's which is great gives us all saturday to show houses or spend time with family. They have great turn outs and those who have tired Saturday's have stopped because the public is not used to them, and low turn out. I actually got to go, I have one starting at 1 -2 :30 and meeting clients at noon first to sign a deal, so wish me luck and good luck to everyone else as well! Giselle

Great tips. I'll usually do them for about three hours. I mail the neighbors ahead of time and want to give them a chance to see people coming in and out.

Giselle - You had to know you would hear from a stager! :) A great stager will take care of items 2,5,6,7 and 8. PLUS we will improve traffic flow patterns and use precise color placement to create space.

Staging - influencing the positive perception of real estate!! :)

MAY

2007

Hi Giselle,

Good Ideas, your time slot works, if anyone is interested they'll make a point of being there.

A Plan I learned from a Realtor is USA, she was walking every morning for her daily exercise and decided to deliver flyer about her next Open House at the Same time. This soon worked into a Great Open House Business

Monday put up a sign announcing the Sat or Sunday Open, 1 to 2 PM
Monday put in your Newspaper ad to Run Friday & Sat
Tuesday do your walk around the Listing with Open House Flyer's(50 to 100)
Wednesday have Canada Post deliver to about 200 to 300 homes in the mail walk around the Planned Open with a Open House Flyer.
Mail and call your Database of Buyers that fit the house
Ask the Sellers to Post a Notice at Work and email friends about the Open
Arrive 1/2 hour early, make sure everything is ready, including yourself, with all you stuff about you and brochures on the home.
Post the Open House with the time and day in your Comments on www.mls.ca
Add your own ideas

Note: This is one of the few times the pubic comes to us, build a business around Opens, it can be an Awesome Listing Tool !

Cheers, have a Great Day!

JUL

2007

On the subject of Open Houses I only do one hour. It works great as those that are serious about that type of home will be there and they are. On another note I want to wish you all the best in your venture and keep in touch!

Cheers

Dean

Any tips on the 'pitch' or approach to the public as they come in? Do you sell the house or yourself?

Do you give away flowers, cookies, magents etc. etc. ???

There are some agents in our office who are intuitively good at the open house and count on it as a means to attract new clients. Some sell the featured home consistently via open houses. And some of these agents aren't sure what it is they do that is so different and why it is successful.

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