9 Tips for a Successful Open House
Are you preparing for an open house event? If so, you’ll want to make sure it’s a success. Hosting an open house can be a great way to showcase your property and attract potential buyers. However, it can also be a stressful and overwhelming experience if you don’t plan ahead. To help you out, we’ve gathered some tips for a successful open house that can help you impress buyers and sell your property faster. From staging your home to marketing your event, we’ll cover 9 tips for a successful open house
How to make your open house stand out
An open house is only successful if people come. You should not rely exclusively on word of mouth and an exterior sign to attract buyers. These tactics are a fantastic place to start, but you should also publicize the open house in a variety of places. Consider where your audience is most likely to be found.
Real estate websites, such as the Demakelaar, allow you to include open house information with your property listing. These sites are popular with individuals at different phases of the home-buying process, so make sure that everybody who looks at your property listing also learns about your open house.
Social media: You may also use social media to spread the message. If you have a large following, you may publicize the open house and urge others to do the same. You might also pay for an advertisement to reach a larger audience. Make sure your article or ad provides enough information to spark people’s interest in the property.
Choosing the best day and time for your open house
Another important aspect of a successful open house for realtors and sellers is carefully organizing your event on a certain day and time to attract potential buyers. For good reason, Sunday is the customary day for an open house. Weekends tend to meet most people’s work schedules, and Sundays are less exciting for most families than Saturdays. In terms of timing, the afternoon is usually optimal because it permits Sunday worshipers to attend. Though Sunday afternoons are obviously popular, weekday evenings are also feasible options.
Another factor to consider is when the property goes on the market. Consider holding your open house on the first day the house is officially on the market to build enthusiasm. That way, you may market the property as coming soon, and potential buyers will plan to attend the open house rather than wait for a private viewing, ensuring that they don’t miss out on submitting an offer.
Invite the Neighbors
Your target audience does not have to be limited to potential purchasers. You may also create leads by attracting neighbors who may promote the property to friends and relatives who are looking to relocate. Neighbors may be interested in going because they want to visit the inside of the house next door or down the street. Even if this is their intention, they may wind up directing a possible buyer to the house. If they fall in love with the house, they may even contemplate relocating a few doors down.
There are several methods to notify your neighbors about the open house. Make sure there are plenty of banners and balloons to capture the attention of neighbors and visitors on the day of the event. However, you can promote ahead of time by knocking on neighbors’ doors or leaving fliers or door hangers with an offer to attend. Make them feel welcome, even if they are not in the market for a new house.
Create an Open House Block Party
If there are similar properties for sale nearby, contact the listing agents and ask if they are interested in conducting open houses as well. If so, check if you can schedule your open houses on the same day. You may then advertise the event as an open house block party. This method of advertising the event can help build a larger buzz than a single open house might.
This method is a clever way to attract more guests since they will be able to examine numerous properties in the same area at the same time. According to NAR research, buyers who utilize the internet to help in their search visit an average of ten properties before making a purchase. This procedure normally takes 10 weeks. Having the opportunity to view many houses on the same day may shorten the process and help someone locate their ideal home sooner.
Remove Clutter, Personal Items, and Valuables
You want purchasers to be able to picture themselves living in the house. They should view the property as a blank canvas that they can personalize. As a result, one of the most important open house suggestions for sellers is to remove as many of their possessions as possible. These contain both ordinary items and customized details such as images on the wall. The house should have a clean and open vibe about it.
You should also avoid leaving any valuables laying about during an open house. Unfortunately, open houses pose a security risk since they attract thieves who are primarily interested in identifying goods they may steal from the residence discreetly. You may avoid this by making sure there are no valuables in the house, or by securely storing jewelry and other goods in a secured safe.
Stage the Home With Quality Furniture and Decor
While you want to clean and depersonalize your house, you do not want it to be empty. The idea is to achieve a balance between making the house appear neutral while still feeling homely. You want purchasers to view a property’s full potential as their ideal home. Staging the property with appealing furnishings and décor is an effective approach to do this. Renting high-quality furniture, if available, will elevate the entire environment.
Staging is a tried-and-true approach for helping purchasers see the property as their future home. According to NAR research, buyers think that the living room is the most important room to stage, followed by the master bedroom and finally the kitchen. As a result, it’s a good idea to concentrate your staging efforts on these spaces. Rely on the skills of a professional designer to get the full benefits of home staging. These designers understand how to choose the proper lighting, furniture, and accessories to enhance the appearance of your house. Avoid the common mistakes when staging your home here
Keep Pets out of Sight
The majority of us like meeting other people’s animals. Potential buyers who visit your open house may have pets of their own, but they should not notice any traces of the present owner’s pets. No matter how clean the house is, some people may be turned off by the presence of a cat, dog, or other furry creature inside, because indoor pets add to messes and general wear and tear.
Another concern that might come from keeping pets on the premises is that they could irritate persons who are allergic to them. When someone is viewing the house, you don’t want them to be distracted by stinging eyes or sneezing.
Greet Guests as They Enter
Not all open house recommendations for agents need planning. A simple act of hospitality may go a long way. Greet visitors at the front entrance with a smile and a brief introduction. Welcome them and let them know you’re ready to answer any questions they may have. Don’t bother them with too many questions about their house hunt straight soon, but make an effort to meet them.
Make yourself ready to answer any questions regarding the property that guests may have while they tour the house. This can also help you discover more about what they want in a property and which selling aspects will be most persuasive to them. You may also ask about their current stage of house search and whether they are working with a real estate agent.
Create a Video Walk-Through
Our final tips for a successful open house is to create a virtual tour of the property. A virtual walk-through is not the same as seeing a house in person, but it may be a great visual aid for those who attended the open house and want a recap on the design and layout of the property. It may also be advantageous to buyers who were unable to attend the open house. A video tour is the next best thing.
You may make a video walk-through using a number of tools. The simplest method is to stroll through the house and record it using a smartphone. This is a good option if you want to live-stream it while keeping it casual. However, if you want the film to seem more polished and to be a resource for the property’s real estate listings, choose a more professional manner.
If you found our 9 tips for a successful open house to be helpful, consider checking out more of our blogs on real estate here
