Selling your property can be financially rewarding, but accomplishing this task isn’t easy. Before you can enjoy all of the rewards of a sold property, you have to surpass several challenges that include understanding the local real estate market and pricing your property properly. You also have to pass all of the necessary inspections and receive a satisfactory bank appraisal.
If you’re looking for ways to expedite the process of selling your property, an open house can help. In real estate, an open house refers to a long-standing tradition wherein the seller exposes their available property to the public. An open house is usually done during the weekends and is advertised in the streets to attract potential homebuyers to personally visit the property. You can also place an ad in real estate newspapers to attract more people to attend.
To ensure that your upcoming open house will attract the right homebuyers, spend some time to prepare your home by following these tips:
1. Strive To Make A Good First Impression.
How your property looks and feels can significantly influence a person’s decision to buy. A home that has a very welcoming environment can easily entice potential homebuyers. On the other hand, a poorly-maintained home can shoo away potential homebuyers. These people would not want to spend their hard-earned money on a property that will only require more work and expenses from them.
The first thing that you should do in preparing your property for an open house is to make a good first impression. Depending on the condition of your property, you can freshen up your landscaping, add a fresh coat of paint to your walls or purchase minor upgrades such as a new garage door or exterior doors. Potential homebuyers will notice these elements first and how these look can set their expectations.
2. Make Sure Everything Is Cleaned.
Your property should be thoroughly cleaned before you decide to have an open house. You should do this, especially if you’re planning to sell an old or ancestral property. Depending on your preferences, you can roll up your sleeves and opt to clean the property by yourself or hire professionals to do the job for you.
Regardless of how you’re planning to clean your property, the following tasks should be covered during the process:
- Be thorough. Cleaning your property as a preparation for your open house will not only require you to sweep and mop the floors. To ensure that your property creates a positive and lasting impression, all of the carpets, furniture, and windows should be cleaned thoroughly. The ceiling and all other surfaces should be polished, as well.
- Get rid of clutter. It’ll be hard for a potential homebuyer to envision themselves inside the property if there are too many items placed inside it. All of the unnecessary knickknacks and extra pieces of furniture should be removed from your property before your open house. The more sparse and streamlined your property is, the easier it’ll be for you to sell it.
- Remove personal items. If you have been living in the property you’re selling for years, it’s common that you’ll place a lot of personal items in it. However, since you’re now opening your doors to a new homeowner, you should remove all of your personal items from the property.
Any family photos, children’s trophies, and other religious items should be removed from the property before you hold an open house.
3. Promote Your Open House.
If you want your open house to attract a lot of people, exert time and effort in promoting the activity. How well you advertise the activity can determine how many people will be present during your open house. Aside from letting the general public know about your open house, your ads should also include the address of your property and how people can get to the location fast.
Promoting your open house can come in different forms, but the most common methods include the following:
Add to your listing. If you’re working with a real estate agent in selling your property, ask them to add the open house to their listing. The schedule and other details of your open house will be displayed online.
Post signs. You can place an “Open House Sunday” sign near your property and use several directional signs to help people reach the area.
Use balloons. For a simple yet effective way of promoting your open house, use colorful balloons, and place them all around your property. The colors will attract the attention of passers-by in the area.
Preparation Is Key
Contrary to popular belief, an open house isn’t all about putting up a sign that your home is for sale and addressing the questions of interested homebuyers. Remember, the amount of effort you’ll spend in preparing for an open house can create an impression about your property. Regardless of how spacious your property is, if it is not showcased properly, hauling in buyers can still become challenging.
Use this article as your guide so you can make the most out of your upcoming open house and
ensure that you can earn a sure buyer from the event!
