When done right, an open house can yield multiple valuable offers. The key here is it has to be "done right." You need to showcase your home's best qualities, make sure every square inch is spotless, and help buyers envision themselves in your home.
That's easier said than done, though. So, what does it actually take to prepare your home for a winning open house? Our real estate experts have been in the business for 25 years. Here are their top tips on how to prepare for an open house.
Here's How to Prepare for an Open House
1. Set a Date
Preparing for an open house isn't something that happens overnight. You're going to need at least a month to prepare.
The first thing you need to do is set a date at least a month in advance. This gives you time to prepare your home for prospective buyers.
How do you know what day and time are best? Here are a few tips:
Consider your home's price range and what the typical buyer looks like. Is it likely the most qualified buyers for your home work jobs that schedule them at night or over the weekend? Or do you think most prospective buyers have a typical 9-to-5?
Weekends are the most popular for open houses, as many people are off work and plan to go to multiple open houses in one day.
Weekday evenings can work well, as it gives office workers and those with alternative schedules time to view the home.
Ask your real estate agent which days and times usually work well for them, as they'll have the best idea of a successful open house in your market and price range.
2. Remove Clutter
Now that you have an open house date to work towards, it's time to declutter. Removing clutter from your home will take some time, so it's important to start this step ahead of time. Make sure you give yourself at least a month or two!
We know how daunting it feels to have to clear out your space. Here's what we typically recommend to our home sellers:
Start with the least used areas of your home: closets, garages, basements, and storage cabinets will have the most clutter. Tackle these first before moving to your kitchen, bedroom, and bathrooms. It'll make you feel much more accomplished, as the job will only get easier!
You can sell or donate anything you 100% don't want anymore, but you don't have to get rid of anything completely. For items you want to keep but don't want cluttering up your home, you can rent a storage unit or simply keep things in storage bins or boxes in the garage.
Focus on small areas first, such as a box, dresser, or closet. Take your time going through it, so you don't feel overwhelmed.
Organize cabinets and drawers. You never know where prospective buyers are going to look.
3. Get Rid of Personal Items
Remove (or hide) all personal effects from your home. This includes family pictures, decorations with your name on it, degrees/awards, and anything religious or political.
You want buyers to think of themselves and their families in the home rather than being distracted by your family photos.
Also, make sure to put away any personal mail, bills, and medications. People can be nosy, and you don't want to give them any reason to have your personal information.
In addition to getting rid of personal items, we recommend putting away anything that won't be included in the sale of the house. For example, if you have a large chandelier in the dining room you're going to take with you when you move, don't leave it up. A buyer might fall in love with it and use it as a bargaining chip during the sale.
4. Consider Redecorating (or at Least Rearranging)
Is your furniture neutral, or is it all in loud colors? What about the style of your furniture — is it out of date? Cluttered?
A good rule of thumb is to remove half of the furniture in each room to make it feel more open. Then, you can evaluate what else might need to be removed or added from there.
A few tips for redecorating include:
Pick neutral colors
Choose furniture that matches the style of your home
Decorate beds and couches with neutral-colored linens, avoiding patterns
Add fresh flowers to entryways
Set the dining room table before your open house to make it feel more inviting
Replace personalized artwork and imagery with general landscape photos (you might be able to find some nice artwork at a thrift store!)
If you don't feel like you have the eye to redecorate, or don't have the time, you can ask your real estate agent who they recommend to professionally stage your home. It all depends on your current furniture and how well you think it fits your home.
5. Deep Clean Every Inch of Your House
Once you've decluttered, it's time to give your house a deep clean. This includes cleaning out light fixtures, scrubbing the baseboards, cleaning off windows, and even pressure washing your house if it's starting to look dingy.
When cleaning your home, remember your front entrance! It's the first thing buyers see when they arrive at your home:
Give your front door a fresh coat of paint if needed
Make sure your house number is clear. If not, purchase new house numbers that are visible from the road
Power wash the entryway to get rid of dirt
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6. Make Small Repairs
Does your house need a fresh coat of paint? Are there minor cosmetic issues you've neglected for years? Now is the time to take care of it. Plus, make sure there aren't any obvious issues that could keep your house from selling.
Small repairs add up, especially when they enhance your home's curb appeal. Look for torn screens, loose gutters, dirt buildup on the exterior of the home/sidewalk, and holes in the walls.
7. Tell Everybody
Start advertising your open house about two or three weeks ahead of time. Here are a few of our real estate team's favorite ways to advertise an open house:
Post flyers around the community
Mail out invitations to specific neighborhoods
See if your real estate agent can add the information to your online listings. Some platforms will advertise the open house for you, directly on the home's listing!
Post about your home on local Facebook groups and Nextdoor. Even if someone in the group isn't in the market, they might tell their family and friends about it if they're looking!
On the day of, make sure there's a sign in the front yard advertising the time of the open house
8. Ask About Hosting a Broker's Open House
Regular open houses allow anyone from the general public to come view your home. While these are usually serious home buyers, open houses can also attract people who aren't actually interested in buying your home.
A broker's open house is held only for real estate agents or brokers before your home goes on the market. It gives them an idea of which clients the house is suitable for and lets them take a look at everything ahead of time so they can put in a good word!
Plus, you might also get some helpful feedback on what to improve on before listing your home and hosting a regular open house.
9. Leave the House!
Last but not least, it's important for the seller to actually leave the house. You want buyers to visualize themselves in your home, so you shouldn't hang around talking about the house or area.
Plus, you might accidentally say something that could unintentionally influence their decision.
It's best to leave the house and run some errands or do something you enjoy for a few hours. However, make sure you're available for a phone call if your listing agent has to call with any questions.
Do You Need Help Hosting an Open House in New Jersey?
We've helped clients sell their homes in New Jersey for over 25 years! Contact us today for all your real estate needs and get a FREE consultation!
