An open house can be crucial to selling a house but it can also be an important moment for the buyer as well. While the seller is looking to put their best foot forward with their home, a buyer is looking for the information they need to figure out if this is the home for them.
Both roles can be difficult to navigate but there are some open house tips that can make the process a whole lot easier.
Tips for Buyers
As a buyer, you’re trying to find a house that speaks to you and your needs, but finding the right one and getting all the information you need is sometimes easier said than done. There are a few open house tips you can do to ensure you’re buying your dream home.
1. Bring Your Own Agent
If you already have a real estate agent, bring them to the open house. They can speak to the listing agent on your behalf and they’ll likely know specific questions to ask that you may not have considered.
They will also be able to represent your best interests, point out things you might miss, and be able to get you the best price possible if you decide you want to buy the house and are serious about making an offer.
2. Get A Private Showing
If possible, a private showing outside of the open house hours can be a great idea. A private showing will give you a chance to really go through the house without feeling rushed. You also won’t have to worry about other potential buyers getting in the way.
If you can schedule a private viewing before the open house, that’s even better. You can get an offer in before anyone else. This is especially beneficial if you think there will be multiple offers for a home.
3. Take Notes
Bringing a pad of paper and a pen is essential when going to an open house. It allows you to write down the pros and cons of the home, questions you want to ask the listing agent, and simple notes about the house so you can remember them later.
Taking notes is especially helpful if you are going to multiple open houses and trying to remember which house is which when you look back at your options later.
4. Be Ready To Make An Offer Quickly
If you’re a buyer attending an open house and looking to make an offer, be ready to make that offer relatively quickly. With the market as hot as it is, homes are not on the market very long and if you have your heart set on a specific home, you may either want to make an offer on the home the day of the open house, or a day or two after, at the latest.
When going to an open house, you’ll want to come prepared with knowledge of your finances, a preapproved loan or at least one in the works, and the ability to make an offer after you tour the house.
Tips for Sellers
As a seller, you want to put your home’s best foot forward. While your real estate agent will work to make sure your home sells, there are a few things you can do to make sure your house looks its best and that your open house is successful.
1. Make Sure Your Home Is In Good Shape
Even when the market is in the seller’s favor, if your home isn’t in the best shape possible, buyers will notice. Make sure to make any major repairs before having an open house.
Refresh the paint on the walls, clean that mold in the basement, and give the plumbing an update if it needs it.
Even simply mowing the lawn, planting flowers, or painting the front door can make a difference in how a buyer sees your home.
2. Declutter
Besides major repairs, you’ll also want to tidy up as well. Give the entire home a deep clean including the carpets, wood floors, baseboards, and windows. Make sure any shoes, laundry, or dishes are cleaned and put away as well. Nobody wants to go to an open house with dirty dishes in the sink.
Beyond that, you’ll want to take away any personal items. This includes pictures, clothes from closets, and any odds and ends you have on shelves, countertops, and tables. You want a potential buyer to put themselves in the space. It’s more difficult to do that when family pictures are on the walls.
3. Leave The House
Once the open house begins, go somewhere else. Go shopping, visit a friend, or take a short trip for the day. You don’t want to meet a potential seller when they are trying to figure out what they think of the house.
Your real estate agent will inform you after the open house whether anyone was interested and if any offers were put in.
4. Let People Know About Your Open House
While all these tips are important, one of the most important is to let people know you’re having an open house. If no one knows your house is for sale, no one is going to buy it.
Your real estate agent will likely market the open house with signs and online posts but you can also let your family, friends, and co-workers know. You may be surprised by how fast the news spreads!
Open houses are often an important step in the homebuying process, but it’s critical that you do them right. Our agents at BlueWest Properties have been through their fair share of open houses, and are ready to help you succeed in however many you’d like to go to! Contact our team online to begin working with one of our agents.
