Now that you’ve cleared, cleaned and de-cluttered – what is the next step to pulling off the perfect open house? Wiping a few surfaces and concealing the clutter might feel like more than enough but when it comes to preparing your home to welcome in potential buyers – there is an art to preparing your place for purchase.
Before you even consider setting a time for the open house, you’ll have to take a walk through your place to create a list of all the things you’ll need to do to prepare. This can include everything from repairs to a fresh coat of paint. Even though you’re inviting people to view the inside of your home, don’t forget to clean up, spruce up and trim up your yard and walkway since it’s the first thing they’ll see before they even cross your threshold. It’s important to impress them every step of the way.
Another impression your home will be making is online so make sure that your web listing is organized, clean and informative and check to see that your Realtor is using all the latest apps and tools to spread the word about your open house. The more people you can get in the door, the better your chances are of selling.
Here are some must-do’s to artfully prepare your home for an open house:
• Get attention! Make sure to make the event clear by putting an open house sign on your ‘For Sale’ sign.
• Pick an uncommon time for the open house so you’re not competing with others.
• De-clutter and depersonalize! Remove all clutter and get rid of most personal items.
• Establish some rules for the open house such as no shoes in the house, no using the bathrooms, etc. Make sure to communicate these clearly to your Realtor.
• Set the stage. Get your potential buyers into the buying mood by creating a welcoming mood. Try setting the table for a formal dinner and always put out fresh cut flowers. Show them what it would be like to move in and start living with little to no effort.
• Turn on easy listening music for background noise.
• Put out refreshments to keep guests lingering longer.
• Avoid scented candles as the smell can be over-powering and distracting. Instead use simple, natural scents that align with your home in some way. The scent of freshly squeezed lemons works in every home.
• Open all the curtains and blinds to let in as much natural light as possible and turn