Planning a Real Estate Open House: Countdown to the Big Day
Open House Tips:
To sell your home, you need to bring in the buyers: distributing flyers, posting ads, and holding an open house. It’s not as overwhelming as it sounds. Think of it as a rather special party, with the house itself as the honored guest. They’re here to see the structure, check out the size, and see the property at its best. So a little preparation is in order.
The Day Before:
- Lighting is everything.Sunlight and warm lighting make your house look bigger and happier. Wash the windows and replace heavy drapes with light, airy curtains. Change the light bulbs to those with higher wattage. When the guests arrive, turn on all the lamps—even if it’s broad daylight.
- De-clutter. The more things there are in a room, the smaller it looks. Remove unnecessary furniture, store knacks, and clear all counters. To make your kitchen cabinets look roomier, keep them half empty.
- Depersonalize. You want to make your guests feel that they already own the home, so remove any personal photographs, trophies, or memorabilia that may intrude on these day dreams.
- Clean the house thoroughly. Remove stains, spills, dust bunnies—and remember that people will be opening cabinets and drawers, so don’t cheat by just shoving everything out of sight!
The Night Before:
- Put a small notebook on a small table by the door. The notebook will serve as as your guest book.
- Next to the notebook, leave a stack of your calling cards and flyers with a summary of your house details. This includes a history of the house, size, key features, address, etc.
- Print copies of our Offer to Purchase Forms and Real Estate Agreements and leave in a clearly marked folder.
- For added convenience, collate and staple your calling card, flyer, and forms into sets which people can pick up before they leave.
A Few Hours Before:
- Aromatherapy proves that scents can significantly affect a person’s mood. Fill your house with aromas associated with cheer, energy, hominess. Try bringing in fresh flowers, baking bread, and leaving bowls of potpourri in key areas (don’t forget the bathroom and bedroom). Lightly spray the inside of cabinets with a subtle, floral scent. If you have pets, get a special enzyme spray to neutralize odors of urine from carpets or upholstery.
- Place liquid soap and fresh towels in the bathrooms. For pretty presentation, tightly roll towels and line them up in a bread roll basket.
