The "Keys" to an Open House

If you want to sell your home, you want to sell it fast, and you want to sell it at a price as close to your asking price as possible… you NEED to hold an open house.

If you are working through or with a realtor, they might schedule these FOR you and take care of all of the dirty work. In which case, all you need to do is sit back, relax, and let the realtor do the job that you are paying them commission to do.

Now, if you are doing the smart, economically savvy thing and selling your home on your OWN… then you have to hold these OPEN HOUSES yourself. Here are the “KEYS” to holding successful open houses:

• The Weekend WINS. Yes, although the weekend may be your time to relax, for potential homebuyers, the weekend is prime time to look. Saturdays and Sundays are perfect for holding open houses because you are more likely to get the MOST traffic during those times. Don’t try and hold an open house in the middle of the day on a Monday, because the chances of you getting a lot of lookers are slim to none.
• Extra! Extra! Read ALL about it! Create a creative newsletter, flyer, or pamphlet advertising the home and have it ready to hand out to people who come look at the house. It should feature all of the details of the home including square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, # of windows, and any special features (i.e. fireplaces, bay windows, original crown molding). Include great photos of the home and highlight any new appliances or  renovations. This will give the potential buyer something to look at after they leave and will refresh their memory on their favorite parts of the home when they are considering their options. But please, don’t include cheesy clip art… this isn’t a 7th grade flyer for an English project.
• Meeting and Greeting: That’s right. Be there, at the door, and extremely attentive to all of the potential buyers that walk in. Smile! Smile! Smile! Welcome them to the home and offer to take them around. Be able to answer any and all questions that they have in an honest and forthright manner… don’t lie to them, because they WILL find out later, BUT be sure to be as positive and upbeat as possible. Also, if they have kids, highlight the yard or accessory features of the home. And if they have pets, talk about great pet friendly features like an already built-in pet door, fenced in back yard, or close proximity to a dog park.
• Ah! That’s refreshing! Yes, it seems silly, but prepare the home for guests! Put out a bouquet of fresh flowers and offer refreshments. Punch, water, fruit, snacks, etc… By setting a positive tone, your potential buyers will feel much more relaxed and much more likely to want to buy your home!
• Mr. Clean. It should go without saying, but sometimes it doesn’t…. make sure the home is CLEAN. That’s right. Vacuum, dust, sweep, and clean the bathrooms. Also, make sure the bathrooms have toilet paper. Simple, but necessary. Oh, and a few Glade Plug-Ins can make a WORLD of difference.
• One is definitely a lonely number. Do NOT hold an open house by yourself. If you’re married, your spouse should always be there. If you have older kids, have them help out. Neighbors, too. You will need more than one person to give tours, and greet, and welcome, and give tours, and greet, and welcome, and answer questions, etc… The more people who are willing to help, the merrier. BUT make sure everyone knows what their assigned job is so there aren’t too many cooks in the kitchen.

Okay, so you are going to hold an open house. But guess what, it’s not ALWAYS easy. There are definitely some things to keep in mind as far as safety is concerned. Open houses are prime time for a lot of criminals to come in to your home, distract the homeowner, and leave with your stuff without YOU ever knowing. SO, here are some KEY safety times for holding an open house:

• NEVER DO IT ALONE. I mentioned this earlier, but it is worth mentioning again. Have someone else there with you at all times to back you up if need be. Also, potential buyers should never be left alone in a room without supervision. You don’t need to be on their backs the whole time, but for their safety and yours, keep an eye on them. Also, it is helpful to have contact with someone NOT present at the open house just to let them know how things are going, that way if something were to happen, there’s someone on the outside who knows what’s going on.
• Know how to get out of the house and make it accessible. Make sure to unlock all doors, deadbolts, and windows DURING the open house. This way, if someone does come in that is unwanted, you have more than one option as to a way out.
• Watch yo’ back. Always walk behind potential buyers. Allow them to enter and exit all rooms first.
• Keep your personal belongings (keys, wallet, cell phone) with you at all times. This one is pretty self-explanatory.
• Get their info. If possible, copy down the license or ID information of every prospect that comes in. This is simply a liability thing for both you and the potential buyer.

Phew. That was a lot of information, but definitely all things that are very important for you to keep in mind when holding an open house. Don’t be afraid of them, be excited!