When you put your home on the market, your agent may ask you to open the home to the public for viewing; referred to as an open house.
Typically, this happens on a weekend, during the day, and only for a few hours. You’ve probably seen the “Open House” signs that go up in neighborhoods. Let us explain what you can expect from your open house and give you some practical tips for preparing. But let’s just get this out of the way right off the bat; homeowners should not be at their own open house. It can make potential buyers feel awkward and hurt your chances of securing an offer. Aside from making yourself scarce, what are other ways to ensure you have a successful open house?
The Buyer’s Perspective
It’s important to look at the property from a buyer’s perspective. When people walk through your home will they react with enthusiasm or will they react with distaste? It can be tough after many years in your home to get rid of things, some that you may still be using. Regardless, it’s best to take a hard look at your stuff and either throw it away or move it to a storage unit.
Some great advice is to make your home look like a “model home.” Buyers don’t want to open a closet and see it packed with twenty-year-old ski clothes, gear, and games. They want to see how big the closet is! Do you have plants inside? Get rid of them. Do you have a garage or basement shop area full of old stuff? Get rid of it. Do you have a refrigerator, freezer, or pantry full of food? Eat it, or get rid of it. Do you have walls filled with family photos? Take them down, fix the holes, and repaint the wall. Potential buyers want to be able to imagine themselves in the space. It’s important to declutter and make the space as neutral as possible.
We also recommend hiring a reputable cleaning service before an open house or showing. They can do the blinds, floors, carpets, and deep clean areas of your home that need it. Call a few companies and ask for a quote; you may be surprised at how affordable these services can be and the wide range of tasks that they can complete for you.
Open House Safety
When you open your home to be viewed by the public, you don’t have control over who will be walking your property. There is always the chance that someone with ill intentions will enter. Thankfully, this is not as common as some might think. With modern home security and cameras, would-be thieves are much more likely to find an easier target than an open house.
That being said, there are some precautions that you can take to protect yourself and your property when holding an open house. I suggest discussing this in-depth with your real estate agent and formulating a plan that you are comfortable with.
- Remove all of your valuable items and take down all of your personal photos.
- Make sure that all attendees sign in.
- Let your neighbors know what’s happening. Ask them to keep an eye on your home.
How else should you prepare your home for sale? It may surprise you to learn that we advise our clients to remove artwork and personal items. If you have some expensive or cherished paintings in your home and you plan to take them with you, then now is the time to remove them.
How Can We Help?
We hope that you’ve found this information informative and if you need buying or selling guidance in Summit or Park County please feel free to reach out. We will also continue to provide you with relevant and up-to-date information here on our blog.
If you would like more information on how the Summit and Park County real estate market is doing, you can also sign up for our detailed monthly market report by clicking this link.
Best Regards,
Scott & Anne Lindblom
Broker Associates
[email protected]
[email protected]
Scott: 970-485-4065
Anne: 608-345-2734
www.LindblomGroupe.com