Not all homes are candidates for open houses depending on location, condition or marketplace competition, but holding an open house can help you determine how much buyer traffic you will draw. Of course, the exposure to potential buyers who may talk about your home to others is also almost always worthwhile.
In most communities, the best time for an open house is Sunday afternoon. Be sure to to avoid scheduling your open house in conflict with holidays or special events such as the Super Bowl, otherwise you may just be wasting your time. Be sure to also check the weather forecast on the date you decide to hold your open house, because people are more likely just to stay at home if the weather is bad.
At least a week before your open house, remove some of your furniture and put it into storage. This is a trick smart sellers use to “open up space” in your house and make it look bigger and somehow brighter. Be sure to remove items that won’t be included in the sale, so as to avoid having a buyer fall in love with an item that you don’t want to part with for whatever reason. If they don’t see it, they won’t want it.
If you have pets, make arrangements to keep them somewhere else for the day. They are a distraction during an open house, and selling a home where pets live can sometimes be very difficult.
Do clean your house from top to bottom and put the finishing touches to your home the day before your open house. Fluff up pillows, put fresh flowers in vases, open the windows to air out the house–that sort of thing. Make or pick up little snacks for your guests to much on during the open house. Make sure to pay attention to the little details–because your potential buyers definitely will.
If you are planning to sell your home, let The Incorvaia Team make the process as easy as possible for you. Call us at 440-879-7130 today!
