How to Hold a Real Estate Open House
Sellers use open houses as a way to market their properties. Because strangers will be touring your home during an open house, take security precautions. Never hold an open house by yourself. When showing the property, don't walk in front of the visitors, as you will want to keep them within your view. Open houses often attract the curious or nosy neighbor. Yet it is always possible that a non-buying visitor may pass information about your property to an interested friend or family member.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Set a date for the open house, with a start and stop time. Place an advertisement in the local newspaper's real estate section or open house section.
-
2
Remove any prescription drugs, valuables (such as guns or jewelry) and excess clutter from view. If necessary, lock the items up or remove them from the premises.
-
-
3
Clean the property thoroughly, including washing windows, vacuuming carpets, scrubbing floors, sweeping walkways and porches, trimming bushes, picking up dog droppings and removing debris from the premises.
-
4
Air out the house and remove any odor-causing items.
-
5
Strategically rearrange the furniture to present a more appealing appearance. Lay fresh logs in the (clean) fireplace, set out decorative hand towels in the bathrooms and decorate the interior with pots of fresh flowers or plants.
-
6
Arrange for at least one other adult to sit the open house with you.
-
7
Contact someone to call you on a regular basis during the open house. Prearrange a code word to let the person know if you need help. Keep a charged cell phone with you during the open house.
-
8
Make up listing fliers on your property for visitors to take with them or to give to an interested friend. Use your digital camera and computer to create the flier, then print it up at home or at an office supply store.
-
9
Prepare an information book on the property, and insert the information in a three-ring binder. Include items such as plat maps of the property, information on recent repairs or a property disclosure.
-
10
Lock the pets up at a safe location during the open house.
-
11
Bake a batch of cookies on the morning of the open house, to give the house an appealing aroma. Set up refreshments in the kitchen area: beverages and cookies.
-
12
Place a sign-up sheet near the refreshments, and encourage visitors to the open house to sign in by giving their names, phone numbers and email addresses. Set the fliers and information book near the sign-up sheet.
-
13
Place an open house sign in front of the property when you are ready to begin. If necessary, place additional signs in strategic areas around the neighborhood. Greet the visitors and be prepared to answer questions about the property.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit cookies image by William Berry from Fotolia.com
