If you are planning to sell your home, you’ll need to know your open house etiquette as this will go a long way.
From what to avoid to what you can do to help reel in offers, here’s everything you’ll need to know for your first open house.
What is an Open House?
An open house is a scheduled time that potential buyers are able to come and walk through a home. They are usually hosted by either the listing agent or homeowners themselves and typically occur on a weekend within the first couple of weeks that a house is up for sale. Open houses can be beneficial in that they can facilitate potential offers, and alert sellers and agents to potential issues with the house through buyer feedback.
Tips for Sucess
Hosting your first open house can seem like a daunting task as a seller, but we’ve got some open house etiquette tips to help make it a breeze:
- Leave the house– if possible, leave a trusted listing agent in charge of the day’s events. Buyers will be able to voice their opinions and concerns more freely without the risk of offending the current homeowner, and they will be able to better envision themselves living in the home.
- Leave no trace- take your cars out of the driveway to make room for potential buyers, and find somewhere for your pets to go. Pets can be a deterrent to those with allergies or fear of animals, so taking Fido out of the equation ensures there won’t be any issues.
- Prep the home- clean your home as you’ve never done before. Your space will be beautiful, and the pressure will be off of your listing agent to do any last-minute touch-ups. If you want to go the extra mile:
- Set out refreshments, cookies are always a hit.
- Stash away any clutter or personal belongings.
- Turn on all your lights and open your blinds.
- Turn off auto-sprinklers.
- Secure any breakables or valuables.
- Set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature and turn on fans if necessary.
- Inform your neighbors- let your neighbors know that the street may be a little crowded, and there may be a bit of extra noise. This will help you avoid any angry neighbors coming over to complain.
What Not to Do
Here are a couple of things that can bring down the house- the open house that is:
- Don’t linger- buyers won’t feel comfortable if you’re watching their every move. Really, attending your own open house isn’t worth the stress.
- Leave a mess- buyers won’t be able to envision themselves in a home cluttered with someone else’s junk, and chances are your listing agent won’t be very happy with you.
Contact Patriot Home Buyers
If following all of this open house etiquette sounds a bit stressful, why show your house at all? Contact Patriot Home Buyers today, and you could have cash in hand for your home in as little as seven days. We buy homes in Metro Atlanta, Georgia, and the surrounding areas in as-is condition at fair prices, so contact us today to get your no-obligation offer.