Your home has been listed for sale for some time and you are getting down to the wire; you must sell your home and you need a competitive edge!
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Posts Tagged ‘Open House’
How to Achieve your Best Open House Ever
Monday, July 19th, 2010The Top Five Things you Should NOT do at your Next Open House
Monday, August 24th, 2009Your open house is the prime opportunity to make your house shine. It is the perfect time to showcase your home to potential buyers and to wow them with your property.
It is, however, also the time that things can quickly fall apart. Don’t let your open house day become a disaster! The following list of “don’ts” will guide you as you prepare for your open house:
- Do not linger during the open house. If you think that your presence during at an open house will benefit you: think again. Buyers are simply not comfortable looking through a house when the seller is present. Make yourself scarce during the open house so that potential buyers can leisurely tour your home. Your real estate agent will be present to answer questions, to discuss the home and to show potential buyers all of the wonderful features of your home.
- Do not leave your pets in the home during the open house. It is important to remember that not everyone loves pets. And not everyone wants your dog jumping up to greet them as they walk through the front door. It is also quite distracting to have a barking, whining dog behind a closed during the open house, as well. Take Fido or Fluffy with you when you leave, and don’t forget to hide all evidence of your pets before you leave, as well (think: litter box!).
- Do not leave your dishes in the sink. Your spotless kitchen will be forever tarnished in the eyes of buyers when they see your dirty breakfast dishes sitting in the sink. Take a moment and clear the sink so that buyers can imagine themselves in your University Park home.
- Do not return to the house until everyone has left. Just like the first “don’t,” buyers just don’t want to see the owner during an open house. It makes them uncomfortable and unlikely to take the time to thoroughly tour your home. And that means that showing up before the open house has concluded is also a no-no. Don’t return until all signs of the open house are gone.
- Do not underestimate the power of setting the mood. Preparing your home for your open house also means creating an atmosphere that welcomes potential buyers and makes them feel at home. Don’t forget to light the fireplace, arrange fresh flowers on the dining room table and open the curtains to let the sunshine flood the home.
Preparing for your Open House
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009You’ve heard it before – you only have one chance to make a first impression! And that goes for open houses, too!
Your open house is the time to make your home shine and to impress every potential buyer that walks through the door. It is therefore of the utmost importance that you prepare your home for your open house so that you can maximize your home’s potential and increase your chances for a quick sale.
The following list will guide you when preparing your University Park home for your open house:
- Clean, clean, clean! This may seem rather obvious, but it is important to pay close attention to the details when cleaning your home for your open house. In other words, clean the windows, scrub the grout in the bathtub, wipe down your appliances (especially if they are staying with the house), and steam clean your carpets – and that’s just for starters! Remember: your potential buyers will be scrutinizing every part of your home, so make it shine!
- Organize your closets and make your beds. Your home should be neat and tidy so potential home buyers feel comfortable and at home in your Highland Park home.
- Get rid of the clutter. A home free of clutter shows better and appears larger. If you can, pack away knick knacks, collections and family photographs, and get rid of stacks of magazines, piles of toys and excess furniture.
- If possible, open the windows and let fresh air circulate throughout your home. Opening the blinds, pulling back the curtains and throwing open the windows allows sunshine and fresh air to enter the home and make it feel more inviting and comfortable.
- Take Fido or Fluffy with you and hide their things. Remember: not everyone is a dog and cat lover, and the last thing they need is to be reminded of them the moment they walk into your Highland Park house.
- Create an inviting entrance with potted flowers and a pretty wreath. Make sure the entrance is clear of any tripping hazards and make sure to hide all of your family’s shoes, coats and other clutter.
Realtor Tips: How to Help your Seller Prepare for an Open House or Showing
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009Preparing your sellers for the challenges of showing their home is often an over-looked aspect of being a seller’s agent.
Most sellers, particularly if this is their first time selling a home, are not aware that many things can influence the sale of their Coppell home, including open houses and showings.
photo by Wishingline
Open houses and showings are, of course, prime opportunities for sellers to wow potential buyers and make a sale, yet too often sellers jeopardize their chances of getting their house sold by things they do and things they don’t do. The following tips should be discussed with your sellers when it comes time to show their home:
- Remain flexible about times and dates. Inform them that there will likely be those “last minute” showings which may prove to be inconvenient and maddening. However, it is important to remind them that in order to sell their house they may need to make adjustments.
Bottom line: Inform your sellers that last-minute showings are commonplace, and it is important that they try their best to accommodate them.
- Leave the home during a showing. It is important that your sellers leave the home during the showing. Some homeowners, for one reason or another, will insist on staying during the showing, but this will only hinder the showing and scare away potential buyers.
It is important to remind your sellers that most potential home buyers will feel uncomfortable touring a home (and looking in closets and cupboards) when the homeowner is present. As a result, they will likely cut their showing short.
Bottom line: Encourage your sellers to leave the home during showings and open houses to make buyers feel more comfortable.
- Don’t come back early, either! The same rule applies for homeowners who pop in before a showing or open house has ended.
Bottom line: Encourage your sellers to stay away from the home until everyone has left.
- Remove the pets. Pets should not be present during a showing. It is important to remind your sellers that not everyone is a pet lover, and some buyers may be even be allergic or afraid of your pet.
Bottom line: Encourage your sellers to take their pets with them during a showing or open house, if possible.
The key to effectively communicating these items with your sellers is not to demand these things, but to instead request them. A written list of recommendations is often a great way to communicate positive open house and showing tactics.
Seller Tips: What Not to Forget Before your Open House
Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008An open house can play a very important role in marketing and selling your Highland Park home. With this in mind, you will want to make sure that every detail has been tended to, and that no stone has been left unturned, so to speak.
Here are the following tips that every seller should remember before opening their doors for an open house:
- Don’t forget to clean! That means vacuuming, dusting, clearing the dirty dishes out of the sink, sweeping the floors, making the beds, and cleaning the bathrooms.
- Don’t forget to clear out the clutter! Remove piles of newspapers and shoes by the front door. Clean up and organize the kids’ toys and put away any mail, bills and catalogs.
- Don’t forget the home’s entry! Your buyers begin to form their opinion of your home as they walk toward the front door. Is your front entry warm and welcoming, or do unruly weeds and a dying pot of flowers stand out?
Sweep the porch and add a burst of color with potted plants of annuals. Add a wreath to the front door and clean the glass of the storm door.
- Don’t forget the backyard! Most buyers will want to take a walk through your backyard. Therefore, this is the time to make sure any animal droppings are cleared, and that toys aren’t strewn about the lawn. Sweep off the back porch or deck and make sure the porch furniture is cleaned and nicely arranged. Consider adding more colorful pots of flowers to spruce up this space.
- Don’t forget the closets! Buyers will look through your closets, whether you like it or not. Are your closets neatly organized, or are they overstuffed and cluttered? A neatly organized closet gives the impression that there is plenty of storage in the home, while a cluttered, messy closet screams lack of space.
- Don’t forget the windows! If the weather permits, open the windows and let the fresh air and sunshine stream through the home. And by all means, clean the windows so they sparkle! Fresh air and sunshine always help create a welcoming atmosphere.
Maximize Your Open House
Monday, June 30th, 2008Open houses can be a valuable tool that your real estate will use to sell your Coppell home. Although often inconvenient for the sellers, open houses can attract many potential home buyers.
Once you have decided on an open house with your realtor, there are several things you