OPEN HOUSE

Often the do! We actually want them to come to the Open House. Sometimes your nosy neighbor has a friend or family member that they know would be of interest in your community. These types of questions are ones we ask to neighbors when they show.

People will often open closet doors, appliances, and cabinets. The majority of the time it is so that they can get an idea on storage and space. This is why we want you to pack up the clutter and make closets and cabinets look a little sparse. If it looks like there is extra space and not over crowded, people think they can fit their belongings in the home.

Yes, we recommend that you go through the home, room by room. Declutter and depersonalize the home. We want your home to be neutral and spacious. Often it is a good idea to put heavy or bulky furniture in the garage or storage. The home will then look larger and more spacious. We also recommend that you bake some cookies before we arrive. The cookies put a nice warm cookie smell through the home. It is a smell that most people like. If you have pets, make arrangements to take them away from the home. Some people are allergic to pets, others scared of pets, and pets can be a distraction.

Buyers often out in the area driving around will stop by an Open House if it is in an area of interest to them. The majority of buyers will follow a few Open House signs to get there. When the home is located in the back of a community with lots of turns, buyers often give up. Buyers also do not follow signs from miles away. Homes in subdivisions off semi-busy streets have better luck than rural homes or homes of extremely busy highways. When the main road is at higher speeds, buyers will have passed the turn before they have a chance to slow down. Coming off these busy highways can be a challenge for turning around, and the buyers often give up.
An Open House is only as good as the ability of a buyer to follow a sign to your home. Some homeowners communities do not allow Open House signs. These same associations will often remove our Open House signs during the Open House which means no one will show up. Gated communities can also be tricky. It communities with guards, buyers can be spooked off by the guard. In Others, it is hard to get the gate open for buyers.
Condominium and Townhouse communities are not usually recommended for Open Houses.