If you've got a home on the market, it's likely your Realtor® will recommend holding one or several Open Houses as part of your home's marketing strategy. And for good reason: even in our 24/seven Internet culture, the Open House is still one of the most effective ways to get serious offers.
If you're working with a Weichert® agent, you can expect that all the heavy lifting of your Open House - from Internet promotion to neighborhood canvassing - will be carried out by your agent. There are, however, a few things you can do as a homeowner to help contribute to your next Open House's success:
- Set the stage for success. In addition to cleaning your home thoroughly and making sure the lawn is mowed, you'll want to "de-clutter" - that is, find an out-of-the-way, out-of-sight home for the stuff that tends to accumulate on coffee tables, bookshelves, etc. Survey each room and remove unnecessary knick-knacks or objects that may distract buyers from envisioning themselves in the home.
- Spread the word. While it's primarily your agent's responsibility to promote your Open House, getting the word out to family members, neighbors and friends that your home will be open can be a great way to help increase traffic.
- Schedule them more frequently. Hosting several Open Houses increases your odds for success. You may even consider having your house open on a weeknight during the warmer weather to accommodate buyers with busy weekend schedules. Weichert, Realtors®- Engle & Hambright has had a lot of success with our spring/summer midweek, after-hours Open Houses, which we call "Wacky Wednesday."
- Insist on sign-ins. Ever visited an Open House where you were barely greeted at the door, let alone asked to provide your name and contact info? Seemed ineffective, huh? Insist that your agent requires each visitor to sign in with his or her name and contact information. While your agent should already be doing this as part of their sales strategy, we think it's an essential right as a homeowner to know who has been through your home.
- Get feedback. Every Open House is an opportunity for your agent to collect information from potential buyers that will help you sell your home. Within a few days of your Open House, your agent should be reporting back to you with feedback from attendees that can help you determine your next steps.
As with anything in life, you get what you put into an Open House. So choose a Realtor® who is enthusiastic, well-organized and professional in his or her approach to hosting an Open House.
Whether your home is currently on the market or you're considering selling your home sometime in the future, our Lancaster PA real estate agents have the tools, knowledge and experience to help you get results. Call us anytime at (717) 291-1041 or fill out this form to have an agent contact you. Actively house hunting or just browsing? Check out this weekend's Lancaster PA Open Houses.
