Open Houses Can Create Excitement, Generate Offers
Do Open Houses really help to sell a home? Or are they just a vehicle for agents to secure more buyers?
Contrary to what you might have heard, open houses can be a great way to introduce buyers to your home. But not all homes are great candidates for an open house.
An open house on a property that needs a lot of repairs or does not show well for some other reason could backfire on the seller. Open houses are chances to showcase homes in a low-pressure environment, and to capture drive-by or neighborhood traffic who may not have know the home was for sale.
Here are some tips to put on the best open house possible:
Timing
Open houses work on weekends or weekdays. Schedule them for three to four hours in length, from late morning to afternoon on weekends or afternoon to evening on weekdays.
Though people tend to go out of town, some holidays can be great for an open house. Others, not so much. Labor Day, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July can generate lots of traffic. But Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day will be dead.
Watch out for big TV events. Best not to schedule an open house on Superbowl Sunday or during other big local sporting events.
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Signage
Signs should be logically placed to route traffic from major streets to the open house. But most importantly, they should be up before 8 a.m. the day of the open house. That way, people out early to errands or to attend church can plan ahead to see the home. Also, make sure you place a sign outside the home with hours for the open house, so that people aren’t knocking too early.
Marketing
Drive-by traffic is great, but if you want a well-attended open house, you have to market it. Here are some suggestions:
One Week Before: Ask your agent to post the open house in the Multiple Listing Service. If your agent is a high-tech Realtor, they will already be signed up with hundreds of real estate portals and the open house will appear across the web. Post a teaser blast on your social media outlets, including Facebook and Google+, with a photo of the home and the hours of the open house.
Three Days Before: Post to social media again. Distribute fliers to your neighbors to alert them about the coming event.
One Day Before: Post to social media. Put up an open house sign in front of the house with hours for the event.
Staging
Landscaping: At least two days before the open house, mow the lawn and trim all bushes and trees. Stow away toys, extra outdoor furniture and debris.
Housekeeping: Make sure the house is impeccably clean the day before your open house. Don’t wait until the day of.
Ambiance: Find a soft music stream. Turn on all lights in every room and open blinds and curtains. Fresh flowers are a nice touch. And you’d be surprised what the aroma of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies will do to put people in a buying mood.
Pets
Make arrangements for your four-legged friends. Pets on the property can be a negative for some buyers, who assume your dogs and cats are ruining the home. Take them with you to park or another outing. Or leave them with friends. Worst-case, secure them in an out-of-the-way area of the side yard so buyers feel comfortable.
Get Lost!
Now, leave. Your agent can handle the open house. Go run errands, visit friends or see a movie. And don’t come back until at least 15 minutes after the open house is scheduled to end (they often run over because people try to show up right at close).
Thinking about selling your home? Want to know what marketing strategies work best to get the highest possible price for a house? Call us today at 951-778-9700 or use the form below for a 10-minute consultation.
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Open House to Sell Your Home | How to Market Your Home for Sale | Attract Buyers to Your Home | Brian Bean and Tim Hardin Dream Big