As a real estate agent, you know that a properly planned and staged open house gives you the best likelihood of selling a property. Having a successful open house is reliant on several factors, from the timing to the atmosphere. Here are five useful tips to make your open house successful.

How to Prepare a Real Estate Property for an Open House

1. Make It Easy to Find

You want people to be able to find it and be drawn to it on the day of. Post flyers and signs in vibrant colors around the area to direct people to the house, and have tasteful balloons, streamers, and another sign in the house’s yard to let them know they’ve found it. You should also get the word out by putting a notice in your local realty magazine or newspaper and posting about it on social media.

2. Think About Scheduling

Since most potential buyers work during the week, a real estate property’s open house will be most successful on a Sunday, ideally between 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You should keep an eye on the weather, and try to ensure the homeowners can be elsewhere during the open house. This makes prospective buyers feel more comfortable and less like they’re intruding.

3. Have It Professionally Cleaned & Staged First

You want the house to look as well-kept and desirable as possible. Before the open house, have it professionally cleaned, and then stage it. Put fresh linen and curtains up, place air fresheners throughout the home, and open windows and curtains if it’s a nice day. You should remove clutter and secure clients’ valuable belongings, and place neutral décor in each room to make it feel more upscale and inviting.

4. Make Them Feel Welcome

Final touches will make buyers feel at ease in the home. Offer light refreshments to encourage people to stay and explore. Baking cookies in the home is a nice touch, as it will make the house smell warm and delicious. Light a fire in the fireplace if there is one, and play soft background music or radio to fill in blank noise. As the host, you should make them feel welcome yourself, too, by being outgoing and making a connection with the potential buyers.

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