Making the decision to host your first open house can be daunting…but it does not have to be! Crafting the perfect event is not easy but can be well worth it in the quest to get your home sold at the best possible price.
Don’t miss this Guide to Hosting the Ultimate Open House.
DRAW A CROWD
Promote It Online: Statistics show that at least 50% of home buyers start their search online, so it makes obvious sense to promote your open house online.
Share, share, share the news: Use your social media channels to spread the word of your upcoming open house, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, and any other local online groups to which you belong.
Email your network: Push out a note to your contact list. Even if you know most of them are not shopping for a new home, they might know someone to send your way.
Use “old school” marketing methods, too: Don’t rely on online promotion only. Use old-school or traditional methods to spread the word and seal the deal on a great turnout for your open house! Selling your home on your own is easier than ever with groundbreaking new companies like beycome. Sellers who list with Beycome also receive a complete marketing kit with custom signs, flyers, and even business cards with their free listing.
Signs in all the right places: Many potential home buyers take a drive in the neighborhoods they want to live in, hoping to see the perfect home with a for sale sign in the front yard. Don’t miss your chance to draw them into your open house—post signs in high-trafficked areas near your home. Be sure the sign is large and bright enough to be visible to drivers passing by. Add balloons to make your signs pop.
Don’t count out your neighbors: Let your neighbors in on the invite! Many people want to stay in their current area but need to upsize or downsize so a neighbor’s house might be the perfect solution. (Also, they might tell their friends about it!)
Marketing 101: Send out a postcard or handwritten note. Post a flyer at your local coffee shop or in your office break room. Be sure to include a map and get the message out in as many places as you can think of!
BE A GOOD HOST
Snacks, drinks, and atmosphere: Some open house experts like to bake vanilla-scented cookies so the house has that fresh-baked smell pumping through the rafters. Others might light candles and dim the lights to set the mood. What makes the most sense for your audience and your property may be unique, but the key takeaway is this: create a positive experience for home shoppers by offering the best atmosphere you can offer!
Be friendly and accommodating of questions: There’s a balancing act for homeowners hosting an open house. Don’t smother your guests, but be friendly and engaging and, most of all, be able to answer questions when they are posed.
Provide value: Don’t let your guests forget you. Leave some value to help potential home buyers as they research your home, your neighborhood, and the marketplace. Easy-to-execute touches like a map of fun things to do in the area, a real estate marketplace report or a list of schools are nice touches.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Declutter: Declutter for your open house isn’t quite the same as your normal decluttering…this declutter involves putting things away that you would normally like to leave on display. In fact, the fewer items on display, the better.
Work on curb appeal: Pay attention to the outside of your house too. Spruce up your lawn. Trim your trees. Add some colorful flowers in your empty planters. All these details matter and new home shoppers are eyeing the outside of your home too!
Keep it neutral: In decluttering efforts, it’s a good idea to tuck away many of your personal effects, so home buyers are free to envision what your for-sale home would look like with them living in it. Also, be sensitive to anything that might be controversial, such as hunting trophies, political posters, or risque artwork.
Leave out a guest book: Nudge guests to sign in when they enter your open house. You can send a short thank you note for a visit and keep them informed of any future open houses or price reductions.
Hosting a successful open house takes some preparation but is a well-worth effort if it ends with an offer on your home! Spread the word to get a nice crowd browsing your home and listen to their needs, comments, and feedback along the way.
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