Preparing the Home You Live in For An Open House

The COVID-19 pandemic has halted open houses in some parts of the U.S. for nearly a year and as the rest of the world is slowly bouncing back to recovery, open houses are also making a re-emergence in the country.

Holding an open house is an important part of any real estate divestment. It allows potential buyers to have a good look at the property and the neighborhood they’re eyeing, and buyers to feature the best parts of the property they’re selling. Open houses also enable home buyers to raise questions about the house and get straight-up answers from home sellers or real estate agents. Most importantly, an open house gets people talking about your home.

Some home sellers still live in the property they sell so it might be a challenge to spruce things up for an open house. But just because it’s difficult, doesn’t mean it’s not possible. If this is your situation, don’t worry. We’ve listed a few ways that can make your home ready for viewing of potential buyers.

• Schedule your open house

Most open houses are done on weekends when buyers are off work and have time on their plates. Make sure that you prepare your home for viewing by Friday. Some home sellers even schedule a private viewing to accommodate some buyers. A great advantage of private showings is that you can discuss and negotiate the offer in a confidential way.

If other people live with you on the property, we recommend that you keep them away during the viewing just to avoid making viewers uncomfortable. They want to see themselves living in your home and that’s quite a hard picture to paint when your kids are roaming around as they look around. If you have an agent, he or she could arrange and schedule open houses for you, so make sure you are in constant communication.

Remember that when choosing an open house date, avoid competing with holidays or special events like Superbowl to avoid cancellations or reschedules.

Pro tip: Utilize the power of technology and advertise your property for sale. The more people know about the open house, the more you’re likely to tap into a large home buyer pool.

• Clean and declutter

This one goes without saying. Keeping your place spotless before any open house is vital. Sweep, vacuum and mop the floors, wipe-clean windows, cupboards, and mirrors. Stash away shoes and laundry. Keep some furniture in the storage area or some cabinets if you can so you can show off your property’s flooring and space to buyers.

Deep clean the bathroom and the kitchen since these are two parts of any property that home buyers tend to inspect thoroughly. Slowly depersonalize your home to give potential buyers a clean slate view of what their future home could look like. Remove personal photos and keep your valuable items stored and locked away.

• Keep it bright

Light-filled rooms give off that certain appeal to home buyers, so it’s best to keep drapes and blinds open to let sunlight in during the open house. If you have a scheduled open house during sunset time, turn on all the lights, including those in the basement or attic to make your home look bright and spacious. If your property has a fireplace, light a fire during autumn or winter. If it’s not the season, keep the fireplace clean. Plant some flowers in your yard as well for instant added curb appeal.

• Add a few touches

A good little addition to your home would be adding lightly scented candles in bedrooms and bathrooms. Pet odors or cigar smells can put off potential buyers more than you think so if you want to please their senses, get a second opinion from others before showing your home. Besides, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to detect unwanted odor right away in the home you live in. You can also set out fresh flowers if it’s springtime for an added splash of color. If you are holding an open house during the Christmas season, a little bit of yuletide décor could most likely do the trick.

• Set the table for a sumptuous feast

Another thing that could spark a home buyer’s interest is a nicely arranged dining area. Create the atmosphere to help viewers envision themselves enjoying a family dinner on the property. Staging your home might require some effort, but this added detail might sometimes be the thing that could get your home sold.

You can also stage the master’s bedroom or the kids’ room to invite the coziness.

• Keep your pets guarded

If you have pets, put them in a fenced yard, or you can bring them out with others while clients are checking out your property. Some people might be allergic or afraid of animals so it’s better to keep them out during open houses. And although not every potential home buyer is a pet person, it’s still best to market your home as pet-friendly.

Final Thoughts

These are among some of the most important details you have to consider when preparing your home for an open house. In case you didn’t close a deal on your first open house, we recommend that you get feedback from people who viewed your home so you would also know how to improve your services or the process of viewing.

Meanwhile, if you want to sell your home in 7-14 days or less, go to Shorefront Investments. We buy real estate properties in any condition (yes, even without repairs) and in any area without asking for commissions or other additional fees. The buying process only takes three simple steps. First, you need to fill out a form or call 850-713-4866. Then, we will schedule a viewing to see your property up close. After that, you will receive a free, no-obligation cash offer from us within 24 hours. If you decide to give it a go, we will process the paperwork on your behalf so you don’t have to worry about the hassle and enjoy the rest of your earnings from the sale.