Despite the fact that over 50 percent of homebuyers find their dream home online, the open home is still very much an effective tool if you're looking to sell. It's just about tweaking your understanding of the purpose of your open home.
In today's world, it's a useful means to an end when you're showcasing what your home is really like in person. Your ideal buyer might have found your home online, an open home is a chance for them to get a true feel for what it's like in real time.
Here's how to host successful open houses that might lead to a sale.
Choose the Right Time to Host Open Houses
Hosting your open home should not be at a time that suits you best. Rather, you need to think about what would suit your potential buyer best. The best way to make a big impression in your neighborhood is to host your open home over the weekend, for a few repeat weekends in a row.
Another smart move is to host your Lafayette property showings at ''off-peak'' times. While an open home over the weekend works for most people, you need to consider others who can't quite make it or might have previous commitments.
Consider opening up your home at odd hours, on odd days, such as a Wednesday afternoon, or Thursday evening. This is best for busy people who can slot in and out as they need.
Treat Your Open Home Like a Storefront
If you're not living inside the home and it's sitting vacant, this is a prime opportunity to use treat the home like a storefront and advertise well. Essentially, you can treat this vacant listing like an office and place signage, banners, and balloons out the front to attract attention.
Advertise and Advertise Well
An open home is all about marketing. While some of your visitors might have found your listing online, it's still important to advertise the open home in your local neighborhood and be smart about it.
For top property showing success, plaster images of your home and face everywhere. Make sure your signage is large and in charge - bright, bold, and colorful. Advertising on foot is still an effective means to an end, too.
Print off open house postcards, write your open home showing times on them, and drop them off in post boxes and at local businesses throughout your area.
Prep and Prime Your Home
Successful open house strategies include the preparation and inspection of your home. Take the time to thoroughly go over every inch and corner of your home. Clean, repaint, repair, and update where needed before you open up your space to visitors.
Make sure your home does not have any lingering smells, stage the space if it still has furniture in it, or make sure all the rooms are spotless, bright, and airy if it's empty.
Create an Inviting Environment at Showing Times
One of our top real estate hosting tips is to maximize showing times. They are the ultimate opportunity to create an enticing environment that can help create a great first impression.
Play some music (at a reasonable noise level), have some refreshments on offer such as coffee, tea, freshly baked goods, and snacks, dress for the occasion, use mood lighting, and make there is ample, clearly-marked parking space for visitors.
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