Open houses are a great idea for your agent to host when your house goes on the market. Many homes are listed on a Friday, Saturday, or Thursday to take advantage of weekend foot traffic. Therefore, it's important to prepare for your real estate open house. This is your home's first impression. This is a real estate open house checklist.

Get Your Home Organized And Get Rid Of All Your Stuff

Buyers want to see themselves and their belongings in your home. Simplifying the space can make this easier. Therefore, it is important to reduce clutter when preparing for an open house.

• You Should Get Rid Of Unnecessary Furniture:

  Get rid of excess furniture to give your home more space.

• Declutter:

  Clutter can distract buyers as they walk through a house. They should be able to see all the wonderful features of the home and not be distracted by the pile of laundry hanging in the corner of the mail cluttering up their kitchen counter.

• Depersonalize:

  In addition to clearing out clutter, you will also need to depersonalize items such as framed family photos or memorabilia. If there are photos of you in every room, it can be difficult for buyers to imagine living in the house.

• Organize Closets And Cabinets:

  According to the House Trends Report, nearly half of recent buyers consider ample storage to be a necessity. It doesn't matter if you have plenty of storage space and closets. But if everything is stuffed to the brim, it will give the impression that there isn't enough. Box at least half the items from each storage space and take them home.

• Open House Staging:

  Hiring a stager is as easy as having someone walk through your home to make suggestions for improvements or hiring a full-service company to give your home a complete overhaul. An hourly consultation costs $100 to $150, while full-fledged stagers are charged per room ($250 to $500 per area) or a fee of 1% - 3% of the final sales price. You can also implement many staging tips on your own.

Deep Cleaning For A Fresh, Clean Look And A Fresh Smell

It's now time to make your home sparkle! It's a great way to show potential buyers that you take good care of your home.

• Hire A Cleaner:

  If you are too busy with all the other tasks involved in getting your house ready for sale, hire a cleaning company (or a professional organizer!) to do a thorough clean inside the house, including all baseboards and backsplashes.

• Professionally Shampoo Carpets:

  Dirty carpets are the worst. However, professional carpet cleaning can bring new life to your carpets and make your house smell new.

• Clean The Windows:

  Natural lighting is a big selling point. You'll be amazed at how much light you can let through the windows by simply cleaning them.

• Clear The Front Entry:

  The walkway leading up to your property's front door and your front door are the first impressions of your home. Next, power wash the outside and touch up any paint around the edges.

• Do Not Overdo It On Scents:

  A freshly cleaned home will smell great on its own. However, strong smells might turn some buyers off. They may think that you are trying to hide something.

Repairs Are Required

A home purchase is a major investment. You can be sure that potential buyers will scrutinize your property with critical eyes. Therefore, it is always worth taking the time to fix up any real eyesores.

• Paint:

  Adding a fresh coat to your home can make it look better. Use a neutral color that appeals to all buyers.

• Fix Cosmetic Problems:

  Adding caulking to the bathroom, patching holes on walls, and changing light bulbs can help buyers see the good things about your home instead of focusing on the obvious.

• Take care of outdoor spaces:

  Trim any overgrown vegetation, trim tree branches, and mow your lawn.

• Make A Great First Impression By Focusing On Curb Appeal:

  For example, repair broken window screens and loose gutters and power wash your driveway and/or walkway.

Online Listing Strengthened

After you have cleaned up, organized, and repaired the house, it's time to ensure that the listing reflects your hard work. Again, an online listing is the best way for potential buyers to find you at your open house.

• Add Video:

  A virtual tour or video can make your property stand apart, and it's easier than ever to make one.

• Add A Drone-Captured Video Or Photo:

  A drone-captured video or photo gives buyers a bird's-eye view of your property.

• More Photos:

  According to research, a home that has fewer than nine photos will sell in less time than one with between 22 and 27 photos. So two dozen photos of your listing should be sufficient.

Encourage The Open House

It's important to let everyone know when and where to find your open house if you want it to succeed. There are many ways to advertise open houses, digitally or otherwise.

• Add Your Open House To Your Listing:

  This will allow your agent to add it to other online real-estate sites.

• Post Signs:

  Add an Open House Saturday sign to existing real estate signs. Place an additional sign in your front yard. Use many directional signs to make it easy for people to find the house, particularly on main roads.

• We Can Use Balloons:

  Tie balloons to signs on the day of your open house to grab the attention of passersby as well as those looking for it.

• Timing Is Everything:

  Most open houses are between 1 and 3 p.m. You can start yours at noon or go until five so that you don't compete with other open houses in the area.

Open House Etiquette

• Food And Drink:

  Potential buyers and agents are invited to enjoy a friendly environment.

• Natural Light:

  Let the natural light in through your windows! Whenever possible, let the natural light in through your windows!

• Near Toilet Seats:

  That's enough.

• Take Cars Out Of The Garage And Driveway:

  This will highlight storage and give buyers a clear view of your home from the curb.

• Get Rid Of All Signs That Your Pet Has Been There:

  In the same manner, you depersonalize, put away your pet's toys, and bowl. Pets are not for everyone.

• Protect Valuables And Medications:

  Open houses can be a prime target for thieves. Take out jewelry and prescription medications before the event.

• Take The Road:

  Let your agent host the open house. If the owner is not present, buyers will feel more comfortable walking through the house and will be more open to sharing their impressions.

• We Can Distribute Flyers:

  Most buyers visit multiple open houses within a weekend, so it's important to ensure they have yours. Distribute flyers with all the important details such as list price, key facts, and photos.

• We, Will, Make Comps Available:

  Your open house is not the only stop for serious buyers. Print out comparable homes nearby so that you and your agent can compare their similarities and differences.

• We Will Get Feedback:

  The people who come to your open house are a great resource. Your agent should follow up with the agent to obtain their honest feedback about the property, good and bad. You might also consider posting buyer feedback cards.

How To Deal With Stress

It can be stressful to put your house up for sale, especially when you consider inviting strangers into your home during open houses. However, real estate agents are skilled in all aspects of the listing process. Ask your agent for help with open house tips and private showings.