Comments on: How to Have a Public Open House

on 4/27/2007 Remove Family Photos!...Remember that your personal memories are your treasure, alone, and not necessarily anyone else's. Negative impressions can be made quicker than thought by a buyer who does not share the same values or style as the seller, and much can be is revealed through a simple photograph. Perhaps the neighborhood has changed substantially. Perhaps the buyer has a different lifestyle. Rule of thumb: Anything too personal that could potentially turn off a buyer, is better tucked away until the traffic is gone.

on 11/22/2005 Since the people walking into the house determine in the first few seconds if they like the house or not, the first impression is the most crucial. Make sure your entrance is swept, cobwebs are removed, garden hoses are put away, etc. Also check that your entry hallway is free of clutter, free of odors, clean and very inviting - that includes the right temperature. Don't knock your guests back out the door with a thermostat that's set to 80F, or to 10F.

on 11/22/2005 Make sure your house is as clean as you can possibly get it. Pay special attention to corners, light switch plates, tops of lamps and carpet spots. Get rid of offending odors in your house - clean the litterbox, empty all trashcans, clean all toilets (including under the rim) and tubs, and wash all the laundry.
After vacuuming, spray the carpet lightly with linen spray (available at linen stores, or supermarkets) to leave your home smelling fresh and inviting.

on 11/22/2005 Nothing smells as good as fresh baked bread or cookies - and it makes the place smell like home.

Coffee is also a nice smell, and you can offer your visitors a cup when they're done looking at the house.

on 11/22/2005 Have a folder laying out in the entry way with information on the school district, local taxes, maps, neighborhood news, local community information, etc. Also, leave out some notecards and some pencils, so people viewing your home can take notes as they walk through the house.

on 11/22/2005 Print out little notes about specific good features of your house. That way, you can tell the people looking at the house about the new paint in the hall, the new roof or how old the furnace is, without even standing beside them.