Tips for a Successful Open House when your Home is on the Market

By: Joshua Safee
Submitted: 2009-11-02 16:41:12
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An open house is a great way to attract people to your home when it is on the market. This can work whether you are selling the home on your own or with the help of a real estate agency. An open house means that on a specified date and for specific hours people can come and go in the home as they please. They don’t need to contact you or the real estate agent to schedule an appointment.

There are people that haven’t yet committed to the idea of buying a home. They are still looking at the options. They may view your open house invitation as a way for them to move forward with that concept. They also don’t feel pressured by the owner or a real estate agent when they can just go in and see it on their own.

In order to get a good turn out with an open house, it needs to be announced at least a couple of weeks before it occurs. People have busy schedules and you want them to be able to fit this into their day. Make sure you have plenty of hours open to give those that want to come a chance to do so. Some people are morning people and others are more active in the afternoon or early evening. There are work schedules to consider as well.

Using multiple methods of advertising for your open house is very important as well. You want to get the word out there through as many ways as you can. This includes newspaper ads, online, hanging up fliers, and even putting a sign in your yard that people can see when they drive by.

It is a great idea to have fliers created that can be handed out at the door too. This is a great way to welcome people to your home. It should have basic information about the home including the selling price on it. Each person coming for the open house should be personally greeted by someone as they approach the front door. That way they feel welcome and they will take their time looking around.

Make sure that people are able to get their questions answered too at an open house. You don’t want them to leave discouraged because they couldn’t get information that they needed. It could turn them off from looking further into buying your home, even if they really loved it. If you have documents such as the appraisal and inspection then display them where all interested can see them. Chances are you will get lots of questions pertaining to them so it is best to have that information readily available when possible.

Consider offering some type of refreshments for those that come to your open house. Keep it cost effective and something that can be served quickly. You also want to make sure every person that comes is thanked for their time before they leave. That way the entire experience they had while in your home to the moment that they leave is very positive.

An open house can be a very powerful way to bring many people to look at the home you have for sale. The fact that those interested in it will see other people there will also encourage them to make an offer. They don’t want to risk someone else that was at the open house getting an offer submitted before them. That sense of urgency that can be created is something you don’t get when you are showing a home to people one on one.

Article source: Expert Articles