When you’re selling your own property, it’s important to be intentional about attracting potential buyers. One way to draw buyers to your property is to host an open house; indeed, many professional agents believe open houses to be essential for getting a property sold. Of course, when you’re hosting your own open houses, without the assistance of an agent, it’s up to you to make the most of these important opportunities.
In this post, we’ll offer a few tips and strategies for hosting effective open houses, and ultimately for getting your property sold.
Using Open Houses for Selling Your Own Property
- Do some scouting. Before you host an open house, make sure you’ve actually attended some! Visit some open houses in your neighborhood to check out the competition. Take notice of what the other sellers point out, and which features seem to draw the most attention. Also be mindful of buyer reactions. Take notes about what seems to work and what seems to fall flat, and incorporate that data into your own open house presentation.
- Prepare a handout. If you attend a “professional” open house, the real estate agent will hand you a property description sheet. This document will outline a few key specs about the home, including the address, the asking price, the total square footage, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, a few key selling points, and perhaps a couple of good photos of the home. Make sure you have sheets ready to give your guests. Also be sure that each property description sheet includes your name and contact information.
- Don’t forget staging! When it comes to house selling tips, there’s really nothing more crucial than staging. Make sure you get your home looking its absolute best before the open house. This means giving it a thorough cleaning, ensuring it’s spotless. It means making any repairs that need to be made. It means removing clutter. And, it means putting out some tasteful, non-obtrusive, seasonally appropriate decor. Remember, you only get one chance to make a strong first impression, and staging is how you do that.
- Market it. A lot of FSBO sellers have an “if I build it, they will come” mentality, assuming that simply hosting an open house is enough. It’s not; you’ve also got to spread the word, enticing people to show up on the big day. Let all your friends know and ask them to help you get the word out. Use social media to your advantage. Put up signage and posters in your neighborhood. Seek out local FSBO sites or use Craigslist. You might even consider setting up a website where people can find information specific to your home.
- Be a good host. Once house hunters arrive, remember to be a gracious and accommodating host. Greet each buyer with a friendly smile and a hello. Do your best to help people feel comfortable. If you have pets, try boarding them elsewhere during the open house, just to make sure they don’t get in anyone’s way. Put any medications, jewelry, or valuables out of the way. Encourage your visitors to explore the house at their own pace and be as accessible as possible to answer questions.
- Follow up. At your open house, you should have a guest book where you request visitors to leave their name and some basic contact information. A few days after the open house, send a follow-up note to everyone who came to the open house, offering a simple word of thanks. Also make sure they have the link to your listing, and your contact information. Invite them to send any additional questions or comments your way.
These are our tips for ensuring that your DIY open house is a big success!
Get Individualized House Selling Tips
An open house can definitely be an effective way to succeed in your FSBO listing. The question is, is the FSBO route the best option for you?
One way to find out is to claim your seller’s report from SOLD.com. In it, you’ll receive an individualized recommendation for getting your house to market, and ultimately achieving your real estate goals. Request your free seller’s report today!
