When you’re selling your home, you’re in competition with every other listing in your area to attract potential buyers. One of the more popular ways to do this is by holding an
Open House. Of course, if you want to maximize your results, there’s a lot more you can do besides just crossing your fingers and hoping for good weather! The first step is to talk to your Coldwell Banker® real estate professional to find out how to showcase your home to its best advantage. You’ll learn that a great Open House appeals to all the senses. While a listing photo only offers a limited visual, an Open House allows you to present your home using an effective combination of sights, sounds and smells.
•Turn the lights on. This will make your home look bright and spacious. A crackling fire burning in the fireplace offers a pleasing sight and sound.
•Play soft music. Background music adds to a room’s ambience and can actually promote a relaxed conversation. Just choose something soothing and keep the volume low so your salesperson can be easily heard.
•Fresh scents only. The best scent to present is the fresh smell of…clean! Make sure problem areas like ashtrays, shoe trays and litter boxes are kept pristine. Open the windows and let fresh air circulate through your home.
•Go the extra mile. You might even decide to have cookies baking or coffee brewing. These delightful, homey smells will make a welcoming impression.
•De-clutter. When it comes to showing appeal, less is more. Create a feeling of spaciousness by getting rid of the clutter! Have a garage sale, empty the closets and give unused items to charity.
•Give your pets the day off. While they may feel like part of the family to you, pets can be a major distraction to potential buyers. Consider taking your dog for a walk or leaving the cat with friends for a few hours.
•Protect your valuables. While your salesperson will take utmost care during showings, it’s best not to risk your more fragile or sentimental treasures to loss or breakage. Pack them safely away.
•Let your salesperson do the talking. One of the best things you can do to make your Open House a success is to get out and stay out! You’ll get better results when visitors feel free to linger and ask very direct questions of your sales representative. If you’re nearby, buyers feel more constrained and your salesperson may not even get an opportunity to listen to their concerns and offer solutions. So pack up the dog and the kids and enjoy your day away from home. Trust your Real Estate professional to do their job right. You’ve set the stage; now leave the selling to the expert!
Of course, these are just general guidelines for a great Open House. Coldwell Banker Complete Real Estate Team members know what homebuyers are looking for, and will be happy to do a walk-through of your home and offer suggestions on how to maximize your home’s buyer appeal.
