-
Clean, de-clutter, and prepare. Remember,
you only have one chance to make a first impression so make sure you
do it right the first time.
-
Make sure you have good signage for the open
house. If people do not know that the home is for sale and if
they do not know how to get to your home, what is the point of
spending your Sunday afternoon having an open house (let alone selling
your home)?
-
Have your sales flyers and marketing material
ready. Be sure to have handouts that detail the features and
amenities of the home, flyers that show how easy it is to qualify to
purchase your home and information showing estimated monthly mortgage
payments for a variety of loan programs. If you spend the time
to get them there, make sure they leave with something memorable.
-
Lock up the valuables.
-
Make sure everyone signs in before viewing your
home. You need a written record of everyone that visits your
home for two reasons: 1) you want to be able to follow up with
your potential buyers and 2) you want a security log of everyone that
has visited your home in case something is broken or stolen.
-
Remember the five senses to the open house:
Sight, Sound, Taste, Touch, and Hearing. For more information on
these topics, visit the Open House 101 page by
clicking here.
-
Take the pets and kids to a neighbor's or a
relative's home.
-
Turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes prior to
the open house to make the lawn sparkle (assuming that you have a lawn
to sparkle).
-
Don't be caught in your underwear. When
conducting an open house, make sure that you are as presentable as the
home.
-
Smile. As you meet and greet, make sure you
smile.
