Open houses are a great way to have potential buyers walk-thru your lovely home without feeling pressure or a need to make a decision right away. There are a few pointers you could use to make your next Open House a great success.
Advertise, advertise, advertise…the more exposure you have for your Open House the better chances you will have for a potential buyer to purchase your home. Some of the free options for advertising would be Social Media, Craigslist, bulletin boards (work place, churches, schools, etc.) and Zillow. Other low-cost measures would be the newspaper classifies, boost a social media post. Exposure will be key in letting people know your home exist.
Clean up the clutter…Everyday lives tend to take over when it comes to the convenience of our homes. Whether it is mail collecting, dirty dishes, cookbooks, favorite drawings from the children. Having a neat, clean and organized appearance will have your home welcoming each person in. Some of the other notorious items and places to be de-cluttered are: Kitchen and bathroom counters, extra clothes, coats, shoes, and toys. If you haven’t used an item or two in quite some time, placing the item in storage will further help provide your home a clean look.
On the day of your Open House, remember the little things. Regardless of how much trash is in your trash can, make sure the trash can is empty prior to people walking through. Many people will be turned-off if the smell of trash is present. The pleasantries will immediately shift; instead of coming in looking at their potential future home, the negative experience of smelly trash will lead to reasons on why they shouldn’t buy your home.
A lot of people love pets but not everyone enjoys the fragrances that accompany a pet. There are some people who are allergic of pets. The less pet presence around the better the viewing of your home will be. Place food & water bowls in an “out-of-sight” place. Although you have the world’s greatest pets, ensure your pets are not around. Friendly Fido maybe a walking hazard for your guests.
You have a beautiful family, very few people will doubt that. However, take a moment and safely place your family mementos, pictures, and your family specific items away from viewing. A potential buyer is looking for THEIR home. Looking at other people’s family photos and items makes it difficult for a buyer to visualize your home as theirs.
Clean your home thorough shortly before an Open House. Buyers want the feel of a home that “speaks” to them. There is a reason why potential buyers are attending an Open House. By providing for a clean, fresh smelling home to a buyer, they will enjoy your home and increases their ability to see themselves in your home. Placing a few lit candles around the home, helps put a smile on a buyer’s face. Scented warmers and plug-ins are another inexpensive resource to provide your home with a great smell. My favorite is baking a pie in your oven before people arrive. There is nothing more welcoming than a fresh baked pie.
By taking the time for the little things and informing as many people as possible, you are sure to have an eager buyer or two showing up and enjoying your amazing home. To learn more about our team or learn more about the buying & selling process, please check out our website at www.lakeliferealestate.com
