Wednesday, July 09, 2014

In our last report, I tapped a couple of east coast brokers who had reservations about using open houses as a successful marketing tool. In this report, we'll provide some sage advice if a seller and their REALTOR® decide to host one or more open house opportunities.

One Barstow, Calif., firm offered a number of tips for homeowners who are preparing to hold an open house:

Maximize Curb Appeal: Ensure that the outside of the home looks as appealing as possible. Water and mow the lawn, trim the trees, cut back overgrowth and plant colorful flowers. Also, be sure to store bicycles, gardening equipment, and children's and pet’s toys, and remove the car from the driveway to provide parking.

Make Your Home Anonymous: Stow family photos, trophies, collectibles and anything else that stamps your personality on your home. You want potential buyers to imagine their families in the house, creating their own memories.

Spic and Span: Potential buyers will want to inspect all parts of the home from the bedrooms and the bathrooms to the basement and the garage. It is imperative to create a positive experience for potential buyers. Remove all clutter, and make sure all lights are working throughout the house. Clear out your closets to make them appear as spacious as possible. Consider emptying them altogether to let buyers decide how much, or how little, of their possessions will fit.

Make Necessary Repairs: The last thing you want potential buyers to see are water stains on the ceilings or chipped tile. Make sure all leaks are repaired, paint over any stains, and caulk the tiles, where needed. You do not need to spend a lot of money on the repairs, but it is important to do the necessary touch ups.

Make Yourself Scarce: A sales associate can market the home objectively and answer questions, as well as conduct follow-up with interested parties. Ideally, a seller should not attend his or her own open house so that potential buyers can comfortably scrutinize the home.

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