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An open house has been a staple in the real estate industry for longer than I can remember.  It’s a proven way of drawing a lot of attention to your house in a short amount of time.  It also gives your potential buyers access to your home that they otherwise would have scheduled on their own at sporadic times throughout the week.  Here are a few tips for you to help your agent host a successful open house.

Lock Up Your Valuables

The truth of the matter is random strangers will be walking around your house unsupervised at times.  Fortunately, 99% of people who visit open houses are genuinely interested in your home or real estate in general.  Sadly, there is that 1% of the population that attends open houses with your valuables in mind.  It’s good practice to lock up your valuables and anything irreplaceable.

Indicate Fixtures Not Sold with the House

You may have custom-made window drapes or perhaps a chandelier that has sentimental value that you plan on taking with you to your new home.  In any case, items should clearly be marked as excluded from the sale if buyers can easily mistake it as being an included fixture.

DON’T BE AROUND!

This usually comes as a shock when home owners hear this for the first time, but let me explain.  The absolute worst thing a home owner can do is follow around the agent while he/she gives the prospective buyers a tour of the house.  The owner’s presence acts to stifle any open dialogue that may take place between the agent and the buyers as they often feel they cannot speak openly with the owner present.  The honest feedback from interested buyers sets the stage for negotiations or for any changes that need to take place so future showings are more successful.

As an agent, I can attest to the value of an open house when done correctly.  If you have other suggestions from your own experience, please don’t hesitate to share it in the comments below.

If you’re looking for a free, no obligation home evaluation for today’s market place, please contact me immediately.