Things You Should Do Before Hosting an Open House

If you are looking to sell your home, you know the importance of an open house. Open houses are an excellent way for a higher volume of potential buyers to tour your home. And, in many cases, open houses can lead to a quicker sale at a higher price. This all said it is essential that your home makes a great impression during the open house, to ensure that you can reap the benefits of offers coming in fast.

Quick tips to prepare your home for an open house 

Before your open house, take some time to ensure that your home is ready to go. Plan to hire a cleaning crew to come in and make sure your home is as presentable as possible, or prepare to roll up your sleeves and clean, clean, clean. Window washing and carpet cleaning is an integral part of this step.

Aside from cleaning, consider these other helpful tips to ensure your home makes the impression that it deserves.

  • Stage your home with appropriate furniture and accessories. Take time to remove personal items that will make your home feel too much like yours, as potential buyers will want to be able to envision themselves in your home. And, make sure that you remove unnecessary clutter. With the right-sized furniture in neutral colours, home buyers will be more relaxed and will better enjoy their visit.
  • Make some upgrades. If your home is outdated, you might want to consider making a few home improvements that will resonate with those future buyers. In many cases, homeowners with homes that are over ten years old look to replace carpeting or upgrade kitchen and bathroom countertops. With a carpet replacement, be sure to select a high-grade carpet in a neutral colour. And with countertops, consider a natural stone surface such as granite, which will help increase your home’s value and will be appealing to those that might want to buy. If you already have a granite or other natural stone countertop, now is a good time to get it sealed to ensure that it shows at its best.
  • Apply a fresh coat of paint to dingy walls. In the least, interior walls should be repainted every five to seven years and more often if you have pets or young children. If you are serious about selling and want your open house to go well, it might be worth doing some paint touch-ups throughout the home or replacing bright colours with something more neutral.
  • Book a spa day for your pet. You may love your pet, but your future home buyers might not. On the day of your open house, it might be an excellent plan to take the dog for an extended play day at a local dog park, or even better, schedule a spa appointment to let your pet get some pampering. And be sure to remove the pet from home well in advance of the open house so that you can vacuum the floors before potential buyers arrive. If pet fur and related clutter are spotted, this can be an immediate turn-off to someone who might otherwise love your home.
  • Ensure your open house is well-advertised. If you are working with a real estate agent, they will take care of the marketing and advertising of your open house on your behalf. However, you can help them by publishing the open house listing on your social media channels or by suggesting signage locations in high traffic areas. If you are taking care of the open house on your own, make sure that you spend some time spreading the word to ensure future home buyers know where to find you.

Selling your home can be a stressful time. But you can ensure that the process goes smoother and that your open house is as successful as possible if you put in some time to prepare in advance. With the right steps taken, your home will sell before you know it!

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