How to Prepare your Home for an Open House
BY KAPINA LANSDALE
Making use of open houses is a way to market for-sale properties. Although not all homes are candidates for an open house due to their condition or location, for the right property, having an open house may be useful in drawing buyer traffic and increasing exposure to other agents.
What will you as a seller need to do to make buyers fall in love with your home? Lets go over some helpful tips to use when planning your open house.
Best Time for an Open House
Open houses are generally held on weekends when homebuyers are off work and out shopping for homes. When choosing your open house date, you’ll want to avoid competing with holidays, community celebrations, or any special events such as super bowl. Check the weather forecast too, because cold and rainy days tend to make people stay indoors.
“Creating an attractive curb appeal can set the tone for how one perceives the property.”
First Impression Count
Before a buyer enters the home, the first thing they will see is the outside of your home. Creating an attractive curb appeal can set the tone for how one perceives the property. Spruce up the landscaping, prune back bushes, mow the lawn, update your mailbox, or even add some potted plants for a good first impression. The first place a buyer judges a home is from the outside.
Declutter
Show the space, not the content. No one enjoys going into an open house only to find it filled with clutter. Start your organization early to avoid being overwhelmed. With one room at a time, think about what would make the room more appealing to a buyer.
Having a clutter closet may make it feel a lot smaller than it truly is. This is a great time to see what you haven’t worn in a while and maybe a good time to donate unwanted items. Use cute containers or baskets to hide belongings. If you find that you have too many things, consider boxing up most of it and renting out a storage unit.
Fresh + Clean
Nothing beats a fresh and clean move in ready home. Take the time to give your home a good deep cleaning when you first put it on the market. If this isn’t something you have time for consider hiring a professional house cleaner to start you off. Don’t forget to keep up with the cleaning.
Make sure all appliances, mirrors and windows are free from dirt, grime and fingerprints. Have your floors cleaned, shampoo carpets to take out unwanted stains and odors. Be sure to clean your pantry and closets, buyers will want to see everything.
Make it Your Buyer’s Home
Over time you have decorated and added your little personal touches to your house to make it feel like home, but you will need to make potential buyers feel like it’s their home. Box up personal belongings, family photos and memorabilia that way the buyer can imagine themselves in the home. Keep it simple and clean.
Lock Up Valuables
It’s important to secure all your valuables, jewelry, checkbooks and medications. Even though your agent is present at the open house they can’t be everywhere.
“Let your agent welcome buyers, answer questions and show them all of your home’s wonderful features.”
Light it up
Hawaii has year around great weather. Open up all your blinds and curtains to allow the natural light in so it may brighten the home making it look larger. Turn on lights in the rooms and be sure to replace any burnt out bulbs. One burnt out light bulb may give the feeling that the home isn’t being properly maintained.
Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh
As mentioned before deep cleaning your home will take away most odors. If you have a pet, shampoo carpets, deep clean tile floors and clean littler box regularly.
Combine 1 cup of baking soda with 2 cups of white vinegar, pour it down your kitchen drain for a half hour to remove built up odors. Give it a good rinse with hot water and for a little add help put a few drops of lemon essential oils to give it a nice lemon scent. Kitchen garbage cans can also leave a smell, take them outside and hose them down with soap and water.
Try not to cook items with strong odors that tend to linger after like fish or fried foods. Try baking some cookies instead. The smell of freshly baked goods can be quite inviting.
Bring the outdoors in with some fresh picked flowers like plumeria or puakenikeni. Give your home that tropical touch.
Take advantage of the Hawaiian trade winds by opening the windows. Not only can the wind help alleviate unwanted odors but can show buyers the home gets a nice breeze.
Staging
Presenting your home to look its best at all times, consider staging your home. If you’ve already moved out all your furniture, hire a professional to bring furniture and decor. Or if your home just needs a little help, stage your home with some simple pieces, Get a new welcome mat to greet buyers at the door, add a centerpiece to your coffee table, set the dining room table, and add decorative pillows to your couch. Create a relaxing spa like feeling to your bathrooms by adding a touch of white with towels, bath mats and shower curtains. You can even add soaps, candles and orchids as well.
Enjoy the Day and Put Your Agent to Work for You
It’s best for homeowners to leave during the open house. Sometimes the presence of a homeowner may make buyers uncomfortable. This is the time when a buyer is trying to see themselves living in the home and it’s hard to when the owner is trying to play host.
Trust the real estate agent that you’ve hired to host your open house. Let your agent welcome buyers, answer questions and show them all of your home’s wonderful features.
Take this time to head over to the beach, visit friends, eat at your favorite restaurant, or go to your favorite spot to relax. You’ve worked hard to prepare your home, so take some time for yourself and enjoy!
Want to Sell your Home?
Selling a home can be an emotional and challenging time for sellers. I’d love to make the process of selling your home easier for you. Contact me if you’d like more information or would like me to list your home!
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