Selling a house requires a lot of effort from the seller to make the best first impression to buyers and, ideally (if you’re lucky), receive a competitive offer. An open house can be a significant factor in these processes because it gives prospective buyers a sense of living space.
Some sellers get overwhelmed by the notion of planning the perfect open house to attract prospective buyers. In reality, it’s far simpler than that.
In this blog, we will teach you 10 house seller secret tricks to help you prepare efficiently and quickly turn a fresh listing into a sold property.
What is an open house?
In the world of real estate, an open house is a scheduled event where a property (house, apartment, etc.) is open to the public for viewing. This is a chance for potential buyers to walk through the property, ask questions, and get a feel for the space without needing an appointment.
These days, an open house can also be hosted virtually. The host can muchly rely on social media, live-streaming videos, and creating virtual tours.
How to make an outstanding open house viewing
Regardless of how potential buyers learn about your home’s space, it’s critical to highlight its best features. Here are some handy tips for hosting a successful open house both in person and online.
1. Collaborate with other professionals
The first step they should take to achieve the best results is to work with a real estate agent. An agent may advise you on how to prepare for an open house, highlight places if needed, and identify which rooms require upgrading and/or staging based on their experience.
If you are not adept at purchasing appropriate furnishings, your agent can assist you in locating the resources to outfit your home to feed visitors’ imaginations. Since they have an entire team behind them, it will be much easier to make the house look at its best.
2. Make simple home staging
There are a few simple staging techniques you can try on the day of your open house. Displaying an arrangement of fresh flowers in the foyer, making lawn glitter by turning on sprinklers right before guests arrive, and decorating the dining table to make it look snug and friendly are just a few examples.
However, the most important thing is providing a neutral home space allows prospective purchasers to immerse themselves in their own living space’s imagination.
3. Advertise the open house
The success of an open house is heavily dependent on how you publicize it to prospective home buyers. A focus on word-of-mouth or a sign in front of the house is a nice place to start, but it is rarely effective.
Consider doing it online by reaching out to your audience through the channels they use to find real estate information, such as social media platforms, and real estate websites, or even by having a virtual tour appear out of nowhere.
4. Using virtual tours to attract more potential buyers
Another trick for you as a home seller is to open a virtual house. Different from an open house, virtual tours can assist potential buyers’ focus and allow them to explore every aspect of the house.
Consider a virtual open house to be a private tour, which is a wonderful way to promote a property. Furthermore, you can promote a listing using a range of techniques, such as professional photography and videography services.
5. Keep your house clean
No one likes to be a guest in a dusty and cluttered home. From the day your open house begins, keep your home immaculate at all times.
For example, fingerprints should not be left on appliances, windows, or mirrors. Clean and arrange your closets, cabinets, and under the sinks (especially if you have a picky clientele). If you don’t have the time, employ a house cleaning service to perform the job for you.
6. Make your house smell good
Prospective buyers’ impressions of the house can be greatly influenced by the smell; they may even run if they smell something strange.
As a result, a week before the open house, double-check the smell in each house’s corners and seek honest advice from your realtor. The most important thing is to determine the source of the odor and the appropriate solution for it.
7. Remove all valuables
Personal belongings like family photos, awards, and religious art might distract home buyers and make it difficult for them to imagine themselves living in your home. Remove those items by concealing them elsewhere at least during the open house viewing.
There will be more guests wandering around the house as it is an open house, and some of them may not have good intentions. Bring your jewelry, unique items, and other valuables with you.
8. Arrange the schedule wisely
Setting reasonable opening times is another critical part of a successful open house. To maximize visitors, avoid holding your open house over holidays, major community events (such as marathon days), or unofficial “holidays.”
You should also consider the length of an open house viewing! It usually takes 2 to 4 hours, depending on the size of the property, the peculiarities of the house, and the number of guests attending.
9. Provide Refreshments
Consider providing refreshments to express your hospitality and welcome to house buyers. You can select an appropriate meal based on the time of the open house. Coffee and pastries in the morning, wine and cheese in the late afternoon or evening, and cookies and milk for the children, for example.
10. Create an Open House Block Party
If there are any similar properties for sale nearby, contact the listing agents and ask if they are interested in conducting open houses as well. From there, you may plan and host your open houses on the same day, creating an open house block party.
This strategy is an excellent way to attract more prospective buyers because they will be able to view various homes in the same neighborhood at the same time.
Stand out in a sea of rental listings
A home buyer typically visits 10 homes over 10 weeks before making a purchase. To make an exceptional first impression on prospects, you must make your home stand out from the crowd. These include all of the tricks mentioned above, but there is a simpler way – employing a virtual tour.
Virtual tours not only help you make your house look nicer by utilizing some digital techniques, but they also allow you to reach out to more potential buyers. Home buyers who have taken a virtual tour of your home might confirm their feelings when they see it in person, boosting the likelihood of receiving a solid offer.
Panoee can help you make your virtual tour with only a few simple steps and it’s FREE! Start right now!
