Pulling Together the Perfect Open House with 5 Simple Steps
If you have an open house scheduled, you’re already on track to sell your home. Open houses are a wonderful way to attract potential buyers and show off your house, but it takes some prep work to pull off a successful one. Wondering what you can do to get your home ready? Keep reading for a few steps you won’t want to skip.
Get Rid of Grime, Odors, and Stains
When it comes to your open house, there’s no such thing as “too clean.” You’ll want to give your entire home a good, deep cleaning. Dust and wipe down all surfaces, including fan blades and the tops of cabinets. Take a look at your walls and try to get rid of any scuff marks or stains. It’s also a good idea to clean any appliances and use baking soda to get rid of odors in your fridge and other areas. Finally, take special care when cleaning your floors. Remember to remove any stains or pet odors and make sure your carpets are free of pet hair. Consider purchasing a new vacuum for the job. Check out online reviews to get an idea which vacuums are best for cleaning carpet. To get surfaces really sparkling, consider hiring professionals to complete your cleaning.
Safely Store Personal Items
There’s some debate as to whether sellers should leave out personal photos. Typically, you want potential buyers to be able to picture themselves in your home, so think about taking most of your family photos down. You can store them in a safe spot while people visit your home, which might prevent them from getting damaged or misplaced. If you have any valuables or paperwork with sensitive information, take care to tuck that away in a storage space that will not be accessible during your open house. It’s unlikely anyone would take or damage your belongings, but it’s always best to err on the side of caution.
Patch Up Holes and Paint
Once you’ve taken down those photos and other items, you may be left with a few holes in your walls. Repair those spots those spots and sand them down so they are even with the rest of the wall. Once you have all those holes filled, think about adding a fresh coat of paint. If your walls are already white or neutral, stick with the same shade, but think about covering any bright colors with something a little less flashy. Those lighter, brighter colors will make your entire home look larger and more spacious to visitors. Fresh paint will also help extinguish any odors that your old paint job has absorbed over the years.
Put Out Cookies But Don’t Bake Them
Nothing is more inviting or comforting than the smell of freshly baked cookies, but that scent could actually turn people off from buying your house. If you want to have refreshments, settle for goods from a local bakery and plenty of bottled water. Want to add some fresher, more modern scents to your home? Grab some diffusers or candles to freshen up your space. Just be careful of overdoing it. Many homebuyers might be turned off by strong scents — they might think you’re trying to mask odors.
Consult a Professional
If you’re seriously stressing about making your open house a success, you can always hire someone to help stage your home. Many realtors will take care of this step for you or refer you to a professional who can help perk your place up. This is especially helpful if you’ve already removed your furniture or aren’t really sure how to spruce up your home. A pro can create moods in every room that will make potential buyers want to move in right away.
With a little planning, a few tricks, and some help from professionals, your open house will be a big hit with buyers. So take a deep breath, follow the steps above, and get ready to set your house — and yourself — up for success.
