10 Successful Open House Tips to Sell Your Home Fast!
An open house is a great way to bring more potential buyers into your home. It eliminates the need for an appointment and allows buyers to stop by and view the home at their leisure. But in order for an open house to be successful, it has to be done right. Here are our top ten tips for a successful open house that will help bring the right buyers to your home.
1. Deep Clean
Chances are you’ve already started cleaning your home in order to prepare for listing photos. But get ready to scrub even more as you plan for your open house. When people are walking through your home, they are going to notice the little things that may not have been visible in the photos. Inspect your home from floor to ceiling. Ensure that baseboards are clean, walls are scuff-free, cobwebs are cleared away, and windows and appliances sparkle inside and out.
2. Get Packing
The secret to making any home look bigger with more storage is to take things out of it! You have to pack for your move anyway, so this is your motivation to get started. Begin by packing up half the contents of all your cupboards and closets to make them appear bigger and beautifully organized. Then go through each room and remove a few pieces of furniture to open up floor space and create better flow. Consider removing extra chairs, end tables, and bookshelves that you won’t need before your move.
3. Depersonalize Your Space
When potential buyers are viewing your home, they’re trying to imagine how they would live in the space. If they are surrounded by your family photos and memories, it will be harder for them to see themselves living there. You may also have buyers who have a different lifestyle or beliefs than you do, and highlighting your preferences could turn them off from the home and cost you a sale. To ensure your home is as neutral as possible, remove all personal photos, religious artefacts, travel mementos, collections, and anything resembling a weapon (even if it’s a replica).
4. Let the Light In
You want your home to be as bright and welcoming as possible during an open house. A well-lit home shows you have nothing to hide and makes interior spaces feel more cheerful. Be sure to open all blinds and curtains, and turn on the lights in every room. Inspect each fixture to make sure it’s clean and the blub is working. Don’t forget to check the garage and exterior lights. After the open house, always keep the exterior lights on so anyone driving by at night can see the house.
5. Spread the Word
For the most successful open house, you want as many visitors as possible to show up! Your realtor will put up signs to draw in local traffic and use their social media to promote the event. But you can help get the message out as well. Talk to friends and neighbours and ask them to pass the message on to anyone they know who is shopping for a new home. Use your own social media accounts to share the date and ask your friends to share as much as possible. And don’t forget to spread the word among your groups, classes, teams, and any other places you gather with community members, parents, and colleagues. You never know where the perfect buyer might be hiding!
6. Stage Your Home
Home staging uses proven methods to help your home appeal to the widest possible audience and sell for the best possible price. A professional home stager can give you advice on how to arrange your furniture to make your home more functional, what colours will appeal to most buyers, what items should be removed from the home, and what you can do to help your home stand out from the competition.
7. No Pets Allowed
We know you love your pets and consider them part of the family, but everyone may not be as pet friendly as you are. Some people have strong allergies and any sign of a pet in the home can cause them to move on to the next listing. Others may worry that pets will leave hair and odours even if your home is spotless. To ensure people focus on all your home has to offer and not your pets, make sure there are no traces of them in the home on open house day. This includes toys, leashes, food bowls, litter, and of course hair. Arrange to have your pets out of the home and all their belongings stored elsewhere.
8. Clear the Air
Scent plays a big role in how people feel about a home. Any unpleasant odours such as garbage, cooking, pets, or chemicals can turn people off and give them a bad impression. To get your home at it’s freshest, open windows, keep garbage cans clean, and avoid cooking any strong-smelling food in the days leading up to the open house. Avoid using synthetic air fresheners or strong cleaners as some people have scent allergies and overpowering fragrances will make it seem like you have something to hide.
9. Plan to be Away
People don’t want to explore a home with the homeowner watching them. It makes them feel uncomfortable about opening cupboards and closets or expressing their thoughts freely. It also reminds them that it’s your home and can prevent them from being able to picture themselves living there. For a successful open house, plan to be away during the event.
10. Get Expert Advice
If you really want to ensure your open house is a smashing success, the best thing you can do is work with an experienced professional. A local Ottawa real estate agent will be able to guide you through all the steps and will bring the most viewers into your home. Contact us today to discuss how our team can help you sell your home faster for the best possible price.
