5 Tips for a successful Open House

So, I know your realtor probably has some open house tips for you. But, after having sold a house last year and helping other people get their houses ready to go on the market, I have learned a few things. So, here are my top 5 tips for having the most successful Open House possible.

1. Deep clean your house. Like, really get in there and clean. Or, if you are able to, hire someone else to clean your house for you. When people see a clean house they think that those home owners also take care of their house in the bigger, more important ways too. And who doesn’t want to imagine themselves living in a clean house?
2. Let in as much light as possible. Open all of the blinds, curtains, and doors in your house. If it’s warm, but not hot, open up the windows and any doors with screens. Light makes things feel cleaner and more spacious – both very desired things to buyers.
3. Make it smell nice. If you have the time, bake a batch of cookies and leave them out on a plate for people to snack on as they walk through your house. If you don’t have time to bake something, light a nice mild-smelling candle. The last thing a home buyer wants is to smell your pets or other odors.
4. Declutter. If you can do this before your house goes on the market, that is preferred. But, if you haven’t done this before open house day, go through your house with a laundry basket and collect any papers, toys, or dirty clothes lying around-really anything that doesn’t belong where it is currently residing. Take the laundry basket into your car with you when you leave the house before the open house starts.
5. Hire a professional stager. The best thing you can do is to have a stager come in and tell you exactly what you need to do in order to sell your house as quickly and for as much money as possible. A home stager will be able to look at your house objectively and tell you what buyers in your area are looking for and what needs to be changed or fixed in order to attract serious buyers. A stager will take the guesswork out of getting your house ready to sell.