Open House Tips for Sellers

As summer approaches, now is the perfect time to assess whether your open houses are poised to have an impact while maximizing the opportunity among the vast number of buyers we're seeing attend open houses this year.

There are some basics that need to be covered when it comes to holding an effective open house. The gist of these basics will most likely have been covered by your real estate agent, however it's important to mention the fundamentals.

These include ensuring that the home is de-cluttered, given a good cleaning, and most importantly, staged - in order to maximize the space.

Once you've taken care of the basics above, it's time to think about three very important last minute tips to remember:

1.) Turn on all of the lights and open the drapes.  Natural light will brighten the space and make it feel warm and inviting. Additionally, if it is a nice day, open some windows and doors to let the fresh air permeate. Fresh air is proven to invigorate and will help release any existing odors.

2.) Remove any pets from the home. While many potential buyers may have aversions or allergies to pets, it's important to consider the stress of having multiple strangers in the home on your pet. Removing the pet is a win-win for everyone involved.  One thing that many people forget to do is to also remove the pet beds and food dishes prior to your open house. 

3.) Bake some goodies!  It's not an old wives tale that the smell of freshly baked cookies warms the soul and conjures up fond memories. Don't use air fresheners. Authenticity is important in every step of the process, so go ahead and bake some cookies before the open house. That way, you can also offer a treat to open house guests.