The Before, Could be More Important than the Open House Itself

There are multiple things to keep in mind when considering whether or not an Open House can work for you.

General traffic patterns in the neighborhood determine signage including where, how much, and the need for enhanced visibility in some instances.
During what hours is traffic the heaviest, and more importantly what type of traffic is it?
The weather most certainly plays a role. Scheduling too far in advance could backfire.
The home owner’s perspective on privacy and security will influence procedure.
In the case of an unoccupied property, is water and electricity still in service? A dull day with no lighting is definitely a nonstarter.
How much advertising will be required and which media will produce the desired outcome for the specific property in question.

All these issues are of concern, and that’s before you even begin to schedule an Open House.

Once you’ve decided that an Open House is indeed valuable, the proper groundwork and procedure will determine if it’s successful.

How to Prep for an Open House

An open house is a terrific opportunity to expose your home to the largest number of potential home buyers in the shortest amount of time. An Open House could even find the right buyer for your home right off the bat. The formula is simple —the more people who view your home, the more likely it will be discovered by ‘the someone’ who will love it. And like any other step in the home selling process, open houses need to be planned wisely in order to be effective.

Here are some things to consider as you and your real estate professional work out the details for the perfect open house.

Choose the Right Date: Customarily you’ll want to set aside a weekend for the open house, although specific traffic patterns in your area may indicate otherwise. Choose a date when you can be away from home.

Though you probably haven’t considered scheduling an Open House on a holiday weekend, it might not be a bad idea. People generally travel over a long weekend and if your area is one that interests visitors precisely because of celebrations, events, local attractions or weather, it may be wise to give that holiday weekend Open House a second thought.

Give Yourself Some Extra Time: You want your home to be in spotless condition during the open house, so be sure to get a head start on the day. Wake up early enough that everyone in your household has time to make their beds, eat breakfast, tidy up and be ready to leave, so that your house looks its model-home best when the first house hunters arrive. Take one last look around, especially for an Open House, your home should look as close to ‘staged’ as possible.

Because your home is on the market, it should already be uncluttered and depersonalized. But be sure to double check for any remaining valuables, personal documents, family photos, prescription medicines, pet dishes and food or litter box, and stow them away out of sight. Your Realtor will likely check for tripping and safety hazards like hoses and pet tethers, but as you live in the home, you are likely more aware of anything that could become a risk.

Get Out: Having the home owners around can make things awkward for potential buyers as they look over a home. Potential home buyers may not feel comfortable commenting and your presence could even cause them to leave prematurely. Your real estate agent knows how to run an open house, so leave it in their hands. Go to a movie, have a nice lunch out, take a hike, visit relatives or friends, or go cheer on your favorite team.

You’ve Hired Your Agent for a Reason: In addition to conducting plenty of Open House events, your Realtor knows what and how to reply to the questions of potential home buyers and other agents. You should never be in attendance at an Open House or even a single showing of your home. Even though you’ve been completely upfront on your home seller’s disclosure paperwork, the heartwarming anecdote of how Uncle Bob loves your home so much that he stayed for weeks, fell asleep beside the grill and nearly torched the house, will not go a long way toward inspiring confidence in the minds of your potential home buyers.

Take Your Pet With You: Spend some quality time with your dog at the park during the open house, or let them have a play date with other canines at doggie day care. You might spend the day with your pet at a friend’s or relative’s house- a terrific option for cat owners.

And who knows? By the time you return, someone may have decided that your home is THE ONE!

For more information, Call or Text: 602-999-0952
eMail: golfarizona@cox.net
Bill Salvatore / Arizona Elite Properties
Your Valley Property Team
Residential Sales, Marketing, and Property Management

Founder: AZVHV Arizona Veterans Helping Veterans
Recipient: East Valley Tribune’s: Best Gilbert Realtor

While you’re deciding if it’s time to make a move, let us help with our Moving On Advantage Discount! When you list your home with us, and buy another, we’ll contribute $2,000 toward your closing costs!