Preparing for an Open House: Your Complete Checklist

Preparing for an Open House

Setting up for an open house can seem scary! It feels like you have way too many things to do, and not enough time to do them.

An open house is typically when a house is for sale and the public is invited to come look at it to see if it sparks their interest! Agents can typically be seen here as well trying to sell the house to clients.

Luckily, we have some help for you! We came prepared with some open house tips you can use when setting up for when it’s time for you to sell your home.

With the help of this open house checklist, you’ll be stress-free! Just keep up with the following tips and you’ll have your house prepped and ready for the eyes of a potential investor. They’re guaranteed to fall in love!

1. Clean Everything

Cleaning is a crucial step in getting your house ready for potential buyers and agents. You’ll want to set some time aside to make sure you can do a deep clean and really get into all the nooks and crannies!

No one wants to visit a dirty house. Give yourself some days to turn up the music and clean, clean, clean! If you don’t have the time but have the resources, you can also hire a professional cleaning service to get the job done.

Make sure everything is spotless and perfect. Your curtains should be pulled back and steamed, your kitchen counters should be gleaming, and your pillows should be meticulously organized upon the couch or bed.

2. Prepare Exterior

Obviously the inside of the home needs to be pristine, but what about the outside? Think about it, it’s the first thing buyers are going to see when coming to the open house!

Invest in some landscaping and clean the windows and gutters so that the exterior of your house looks well-kept and attractive.

3. Declutter Belongings

If you still haven’t moved out of your house, it’s likely that there will be some personal belongings hanging out here and there.

Though you don’t need to get rid of them, it would be helpful to temporarily store them in some boxes and take them elsewhere for the open house. This will help buyers see all of the house’s features!

4. Stage Professionally

Staging is when you decorate and make your home look presentable when you know that people will be coming to look at it or take pictures of it. You basically want to make it look as nice as possible!

Having your house furnished and decorated with professional staging is one of the key open house tips. If you’ve already moved out and the home is empty, rent out some furniture and accessories to make it feel more homey and livable.

5. Relocate Pets

Pets are great, but not the best for an open house. Many people are allergic to them or just would rather not be around them, especially during an open house! They can distract potential buyers and agents from the home or dirty up the place.

If possible, take your furry ones somewhere else when showing the house or put them in a place where they wouldn’t be seen by buyers.

6. Market Home

Listing your home should be done much before your open house. After all, it’s how people will know to come see it!

Get the word out through real estate listings, local newspapers, and social media to encourage people to come find out more about what you have to offer. Don’t forget to post a for sale sign on your yard or window!

7. Improve Lighting and Smell

Subconsciously, attractiveness is all about ambiance. Making the house bright with light will help it look much more appealing to buyers. Open the curtains and invest in natural light for your home, while decorating with lighter colors!

Also, make sure that there are neutral or pleasant scents throughout the entire home. Try not to cook anything too strong a couple of days before!

8. Prepare Information

Potential buyers will most likely have questions when walking through the home. Give realtors any key facts that they might need or set up brochures around the house so that no question goes unanswered!

Article Submitted By Community Writer

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