First: Most agents out there hold open house?s on the weekend to try and lure people who normally work during the week. This is normal practice and relatively effective. If you decide that the weekend is for you, first look at the neighborhood and find a time that suits everyones schedule. If its Sunday don?t hold the showing from 9-12 cause most people will be in church or just getting up. Instead maybe shoot for a 1-4 showing to catch the people after lunch while there out and about.
If you really want to get tricky think about holding a open house during the week at dusk say 6-8. This approach allows the home to glow in the night?s sky. Turn all the lights on and invest in exterior lights to help highlight exterior features like trees, exterior building accents or walkways. Most showings only focus on highlighting the interior of a home why not turn that model on its head and make the home stand out in the night time neighborhood.
Second: When showing a home always clean up first. The week leading up to the open house have the tenant, owner or current occupant clean the house of all personal items (ie: photos, dvd?s, any countertop items). The reason you do this is to allow any prospective buyers to mentally move into a home and make it their own. If they see family pictures, tooth brushes, shoes, etc. it ruins the illusion that this could be their home. Ideally you want to make the home look as though it is a furnished home but no one lives there.
Third: When it comes time for the showing, make sure to turn on all the lights in the home. Next open the windows, light a candle and turn on some light music. Make the environment seem inviting, well lit and clean. You want people to walk in and say wow I can see my self living here. When a home is closed up and dark it feels unwelcoming and smaller. You do not want people focusing on the pile of clothing in the corner or the dirty dishes in the sink instead of the amazing view and the huge backyard.
Fourth: Even though this is number 4 don?t think that this is the least important. During the first open house listen to the comments of people viewing the home. Find out what they like and dislike. A buyer who is turned off on the first go around is the best thing you could ask for. Take their gripes and dislikes and fix them! Don?t live in the disillusion that your home is perfect, in most cases it is not. Listen to what is bothering people when they view it and address those issues. This step will be one of the most costly steps, but sometimes the most important. Remember though, you are in the business of selling this home not remodeling it. Pick your battles and only fix what you think will help bring value to the home. Examples of these good fixes may be, paint, new appliances, re arranging furniture, adding extra lamps and lighting, new linens and window coverings and light landscaping etc. What not to fix unless you want to do a full remodel would include, full kitchen remodel, adding a pool, new windows, floors.
Hope this helps when you do your next open house. If you leave this blog with nothing else remember that when you are trying to sell a home first walk through as though you were the buyer and ask your self?.would I buy this place and if not why not.
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