How to Throw an Effective Open House

Open houses are an excellent way to show potential buyers what there is to love about your home. If you are planning on hosting one in the near future and looking for tips on how to make it successful, you have come to the right place. 

The Masiello Group has many years of experience turning open houses into sold ones, and here are a few things we have learned along the way. 

Carefully choose your date and time.

It's no secret that weekends are the most popular choice for hosting an open house because on weekdays, potential buyers are likely to be found going to work, picking the kids up from school, running errands, etc. 

Yes, people are still busy on the weekends, but with enough notice, your open house can become a part of their plans. Research actually shows that 75% of agents recommend hosting them on Sundays. 

When selecting a time for your open house, be sure to take into account things like traffic. What is the busiest time of day in your area? You might choose the early afternoon, just after the lunch hour, or if your area doesn't suffer the lunch rush, you may plan for noon. 

Remember – real estate agents know your community and potential buyers better than anyone, so be sure to ask for their opinion as well. 

Prepare and stage the home.

First impressions are everything, so it's important your home has its best foot forward. Refer to the checklist below to get you started.

• Deep clean. Potential buyers don't want to see dust on the furniture or smudges on the mirrors. 
• Declutter. Remove trash, and put away personal items you have lying around. 
• De-personalize. Potential buyers want to picture themselves in your home, not you in it. Remove frames, awards, or anything else that feels personal to you. 
• Spruce things up. Inside, position your furniture in a way that enhances the space – or at least move it back to its rightful place. Outside, trim the bushes, cut the lawn, or touch up the paint as needed. 
• Let the light in. Open the curtains and allow natural light in, making rooms appear bigger and more inviting. 
• Odor. You want the home to smell welcoming. Light a tasteful-smelling candle or bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies to get the place smelling nice. 

Spread the word. 

Potential buyers need to know that their dream home is being shown on Saturday at 2:00 PM on Birch Street. You can spread the word about your open house in a number of different ways, including word of mouth, online, or print.

Word of Mouth

Tell your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues to come check out your open house and spread the word to their own networks. 

Online

Make a post on social media with photos or a video of your home and highlight all of its important features. Be sure to prompt your friends to share it.

Print

Create a flyer with quality photos of your home and the time, date, and place of your open house. Hang them up, with permission, outside of your favorite local places – restaurants, fitness centers, stores, etc. 

Although you can do any of these things yourself, a good real estate agent can help. 

At the Masiello Group, listings are given their own spot on our website with photos, videos, and important information about your home. Many are featured on our social media pages to ensure they are receiving maximum attention. 

If you are planning on hosting an open house, your listing will also exist on a separate "Open Houses" page on our website, where potential buyers can easily find it. 

"Tag in" your real estate agent. 

It's the day of the open house and time to "tag in" your real estate agent. Despite your desire to stay, potential buyers may not feel as comfortable walking through the home, asking questions, or providing feedback when you are around. Trust that if you've chosen the right real estate agent, they will showcase all of the amazing features of your home, know exactly what to say to sell it, and best answer any questions your potential buyer asks. 

Can the Masiello Group help make your open house a smashing success? Our agents are eager to meet your real estate needs and ready to show you why they are the most trusted in Northern New England. 

The Masiello Group is a second-generation family company that has been a trailblazer in New England real estate since 1966. With now more than 35 offices throughout northern New England, we're the largest residential real estate firm north of Boston to offer a complete suite of home services, including buying, selling, mortgage, title, insurance, relocation, and more. 

You can find more information on today's market and other real estate trends by reading our blog weekly at https://www.masiello.com/news-and-updates/.