Articles Tagged "Open house"

It all leads up to this — the open house. All of your hard work in and around your home is now ready to be showcased for prospective buyers. Getting to the open house stage is no easy feat, and you should feel excitement mixed with pride as you prepare to entertain the buyer's offers. Before you open the doors to your home, you want to make sure you're all squared away. To give you a helping hand, our real estate agents created the ultimate open house checklist to prepare you and your home.

• Hire a cleaning service. These professionals will make your home look and smell fresh. Consider scheduling them the day before the viewing and once a week until you're under contract.
  
  
• Hire a lawn care service. Another group of dedicated professionals, these talented landscapers will optimize your curb appeal. Consider having them make weekly or biweekly visits.
  
  
• Clean your driveway, sidewalk, and curb. Unfortunately, trash or debris on the sidewalk and street are out of your control, but you should try to keep an eye out for these items the morning before the viewing. Be sure to sweep your driveway, walkway, and porch as well.
  
  
• Remove personal belongings. Any objects in your home that are individualized should be removed. This includes photographs, souvenirs, memorabilia, or other furnishings viewed as intimate or personal.
  
  
• Lockup or remove valuables. Anything that "has legs" should be kept out of view. This includes jewelry, important personal documents, money, or other valuable trinkets that are not decoration.
  
  
• Consider renting a temporary storage space. You may want to remove the majority of your possessions before the showing to make room for staging materials. If you're selling before purchasing your next home, renting a storage unit will help you keep everything organized.
  
  
• Choose an appropriate time for your open house. You want your open house to be a success, but the wrong day or time could prevent that from happening. Sunday afternoons are typically the best time. Avoid major holidays if possible.
  
  
• Advertise effectively. To get the best turnout, you need to rely on more than street traffic. Open house signs in the yard or around the neighborhood are effective, but you also need to use other resources. Social media and email marketing are exceptional, especially since you can track their analytics. You may also consider putting ads in a local newspaper. 
  
  
• Create a brochure. Give your visitors something to take home in the form of an informative brochure. Highlight the best features of the home and include high-resolution photographs.
  
  
• Stage the space professionally. Staging companies will transform your home into a space that feels inviting and livable to a wide audience of buyers.  
  
  
• Offer snacks and beverages. Create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere with refreshments. This will make the event seem more sociable for guests.
  
  
• Don't hover or follow guests around. If possible, avoid participating in the open house. Your real estate agent will provide your guests with all of the information they need.
  
  
• Encourage them to sign in and follow up on their visit. Feedback from your guests will help you either engage interested buyers or discover why they aren't interested in the features of your home.

Would you like to learn more helpful tips on listing and showing Southport homes for sale? Contact us today!

Holding an open house is a great way to make sure a variety of potential buyers see your home. However, as our REALTORS® will point out, for this to be a useful marketing tool, your home must be in great shape for showing. So what do you need to know to make sure your home is well-prepared to wow potential buyers? Here are six things to do before an open house to sell your Brunswick County Home.

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