Tags: Real estate, Open House, Home
Even with the summer months behind us, there will still be thousands of open houses scheduled in the GTA over the next 6 months. If you are working with a realtor, they will handle all of the day-of logistics for your open house such as signage, online listings, and greeting interested guests when they arrive at your home. But even with all of that under control there are still a number of things you can do to get your home looking its best before opening the doors to potential buyers.
Here is a list of suggestions to help optimize the return on your open house:
1.Make each room as inviting as possible
Open up all of the blinds and turn on every light in your home. You want to make it as bright, cheerful, and welcoming as possible and lots of light will help with this. Dark and poorly lit areas are not as inviting and can give a poor impression to potential buyers.
This also includes allowing access to every room and area in the house. There can’t be any areas in the home that are out of bounds or that guests can not view during an open house – you need to allow access to every nook and cranny in the home for potential buyers to scrutinize.
2.Declutter and clean
Oftentimes homeowners become used to their own clutter and do not even realize that it is there. Prior to an open house it is crucial that you are objective about what you are leaving in your home for others to see, and how others will view these items. To accomplish this it can be beneficial to bring in a fresh and impartial set of eyes from a friend.
This includes emptying out your closets to ensure they are open and as spacious looking as possible. You can not assume that potential buyers will overlook the clutter of items you have in your closet – you want them to look as large as possible and removing your items is how to accomplish this.
If you have more items than you can neatly store in your home, consider renting out a temporary storage space for these items for during the open house.
This can also be a great time to sell, donate or just throw out older items that do not have any value.
3.Outdoor space
Do not neglect your outdoor space. You should treat your outdoor space like any other room in your home and ensure that it is looking its best.
Trim your shrubs, power wash the deck and driveway, pull all of the weeds from the walkway, and wash of your windows.
Put on a fresh coat of paint on the deck, and window trim, and seriously consider the value in purchasing a few new items. A new mailbox, house numbers, and adding some more greenery will not cost a lot, but can immediately improve the first impression that your house will give to potential buyers. Buying a new front door or refurbishing your existing door can also provide great value in ensuring your home gives a great first impression.
Hiring a professional to take on some of these tasks may be a good option for you if you do not have the time or capacity to take on the work yourself.
4.Remove personal items
?All personal photos and knick-knacks should be removed from the home. You should leave your home in a state that is easy for the potential buyer to picture themselves living there – they do not need to see your family photos or religious belongings. You want to leave your home in a neutral state so that people can envision their own belongings there.
5.Stay out of the house
Once everything is clean, inviting, and ready to go, you and your family should leave the house. This includes any pets, children, and relatives that might be staying with you. During the hours of the open house only the realtor should be present in the home to welcome guests and answer any questions that they may have.
Get your home ready to sell and you will reap the benefits of the effort you put in . If you are ready to sell your home or have any questions about how this process works, contact a Cityscape Real Estate LTD, Brokerage realtor today!
