Some are obvious – but others you may not have thought about
The housing market in Southwest Florida is bustling, and right now it’s especially good for sellers. But even with so many people looking to buy, you can’t just put a ‘For Sale’ sign up in your yard and immediately expect folks to show up with bags of money. Smart sellers know that to entice buyers, they have to be strategic.
One of the best ways to get an offer is with a good open house. It offers an excellent opportunity for people to get an up-close-and-personal look at a home. However, there is much more involved than simply opening your door. Following these tips can help ensure that you get more traffic at your residence than the one for sale down the street.
Pay attention to timing
Though it’s customary to hold an open house on a weekend in order for busy people to attend, you have to be careful about the specific day you choose. It’s always a good idea to see what’s happening in the area. If there’s a big event going on, be sure your open house doesn’t conflict with it. Check to see what times local pro or college teams are playing and schedule your open house on a different day or hours before game time. Don’t give potential buyers an excuse to miss it.
Prepare your home
Cleaning is kind of a no-brainer, but there are a lot of other things to do as well. If rooms are stuffed with items, try to minimize them as much as possible. It’s always a good idea to bring in someone for an objective view. What may seem fine to you might look like a lot of clutter to someone else. Also, remove any personal items like family photos, fridge crayon drawings, and anything else that reminds people that someone is living there. It’s also a good idea to lock up or otherwise secure any valuables.
Take off
As a homeowner, it can be very tempting to want to stay for an open house. After all, strangers will be parading through, poking and prodding, and you might want to keep an eye on them. Plus, who better to talk up the house than the person who’s lived there for years?
Well, your real estate agent, that’s who. He or she will have gotten all the details from you ahead of time and will know exactly how to explain what makes your home great. And as for the people walking around, they’re there to check out your home. If security is an issue, make sure your valuables are locked up, or you can always take things with you.
Invite the neighborhood
Advertising is obviously a big part of an open house, and you’ll want to spread the word near and far – but “near” may actually be more beneficial. It may sound weird to invite people who may not be in the market for a new home, but somebody often knows a friend, family member, or co-worker who is looking to move, and they’ll be able to offer a personal recommendation after seeing your home. If your neighborhood has an online message board or Facebook page, be sure to promote your open house on there as well.
Looking for more ways to make your home stand out to buyers? Get in touch with Dante Disabato. He’ll offer insight and guidance derived from his years of experience in the Southwest Florida real estate industry. Give him a call at 239.537.5351 or just fill out our online contact form.
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