Have you ever been to an open house where the house wasn’t quite up to par? Maybe there were moving boxes all over the place.
Perhaps the windows were dirty or the bathrooms hadn’t been cleaned. There was possibly a funky smell in the house.
Holding an open house is the single greatest way to show your home to many potential buyers in the shortest amount of time. But if your house isn’t prepared properly, yours could become the stuff open house horror stories are made of. Our helpful guide will tell you everything you need to do to have a smooth and successful open house.
Stage Your Home
If you’re hoping for a quick sell and a successful open house, staging your home is the way to get there. You can hire a professional stager to get top notch results, or you can save yourself some money and stage your home yourself. Be sure to do the following when staging:
- Clean the inside and outside of your house very thoroughly
- Declutter and remove a majority of the stuff from your home
- Take down any family pictures, children’s art, and anything too personal
- Patch holes in the walls, touch up paint, and make any needed repairs
- Rearrange furniture to make your space look large and airy
- Add a few warm touches like new throw pillows, rugs, and decor items
Be Selective of the Date and Time
There’s no point in holding an open house at a time when few people will be able to attend. Be very selective when it comes to choosing the date and time. Weekends are always your best bet. Stick with a Saturday or Sunday, and be aware of any holiday weekends that might take potential buyers out of town around that time.
The time of your house is every bit as important as the date. Fewer people are likely to attend even open houses, but make it too early in the morning and you’ll miss out on a lot of traffic. Most realtors recommend a four-hour window for your open house, and having it run from either 11 AM – 3 PM or from 12 PM – 4 PM.
Market Your House
Spread the word! Invite friends and family. Tell your neighbors. Post about your open house on social media. Add the open house information to your MLS listing. The more people that know about your open house, the better.
Offer an Online Option
COVID-19 has changed the way open houses are being held in many areas, and some of these changes might be around for a while. Virtual open houses are a great option for high-risk sellers because you can show your home to a large number of people without the risk of close contact.
Patriot Home Buyers is Here
Hosting an open house can be a lot of work, and it might not yield the offer you’re hoping for. Patriot Home Buyers is here to help. We buy houses in Metro Atlanta and the surrounding area in Georgia for cash. No cleaning, staging, or open house required! Contact us today to get your cash offer!