Have a Safe and Productive Open House

Tips for a Safe and Productive Open House

A Safe Open House:  This week I bring you some tips for hosting a safe and productive open house.  While this article is primarily for sellers, I believe that buyers too will find this article interesting.

As always, I am happy to assist you with all of your real estate related needs.  Please feel free to contact me for personalized open house tips.

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 Recent Open House Experiences

The thing I’ve learned recently is how sophisticated sellers in my neighborhood have become.  For the most part, each open house is a shining example of how to make lemonade with the lemons that exist in your own house.  Mostly, the houses looked as if they’ve been staged into a showpiece that’s really appealing.

But one house I visited over the weekend had a classic case of what I call “Open House Don’ts”. ” These are things you don’t want to do if you’ve listed your house for sale:

DON’T  leave dirty clothes all over the bedroom floor, your bed, in the bathtub or even in the laundry room.  No one wants to see your dirty underwear, or even your son’s sweater draped over a chair.  Dirty clothes belong in a hamper.  And, don’t forget to make your bed.

DON’T  leave dirty dishes in the sink, on the counter or anywhere except in a dishwasher.  And even then, you should run the dishwasher so that you have time to empty it before you get out of the way for the showing.  No one wants to imagine what you made for dinner last night.  Be sure to sweep the house for coffee cups, milk or sippy cups, or other remnants of late-night snacking.
 
DON’T  leave a filthy house, hoping the buyers will see past the dustballs near the couch — they won’t, and as they run their fingers over your dusty window frame, they’ll just wonder what other maintenance projects you’ve let slip.

DON’T  allow odors from pets, babies or other unappetizing smells (think bathrooms, garbage and smelly cheese in the refrigerator) to permeate your home.  If you think your home might smell bad, ask a neighbor to give it a “whiff test. ” If your house does smell bad, don’t try to mask it with a spray.  Buy a roll of refrigerated cookie dough and slice and bake some on a piece of tinfoil just before the showing.  It’ll make your house smell good enough to eat.

DON’T  assume Mother Nature is your friend.  Prepare for whatever weather is seasonally appropriate.  If it’s winter, then be sure your walk is shoveled and salted. If it’s wet, be sure to leave out a tray for wet boots.  And while we’re on the subject …

DON’T  assume that prospective buyers will treat your house as if it were already theirs.  If you don’t want muddy shoes or boots on your white carpets, create a nice laminated sign that nicely asks everyone to remove their shoes.  Then, provide a basket of booties or socks for buyers and agents to slip on as they walk through your home.

DON’T  leave vacant rooms filled with junk, toys or spillover messes from other rooms. If you’re lucky enough to have too much space in your house, make sure your empty rooms are pristine.

The Next Two are VERY IMPORTANT Open House Security Issues:
DON’T  leave personal information such as mail or bills out in the open where anyone can see them.  Be sure to lock down your computer and lock up your laptop and any other expensive, easy-to-pocket electronics, like iPods and cell phones, before your showing.

DON’T  leave money, jewelry, prescription medications or other valuables out in the open or even in typical hiding places, like the top dresser drawer or medacine cabinet.  Invest in a safe or put your valuables in a brown paper bag and hide them somewhere unusual, perhaps in a box at the top of the closet, or in the basement.

DON’T  use boxes and extra furniture to hide problems in your basement or attic.  Don’t use paint to cover up perennial problems.  In other words, fix the leak, don’t just paint over it.

DON’T  leave your house in the dark.  People want to buy light, bright homes.  As you walk through the house for the final check before you clear out for the showing, be sure to turn on all the lights, including closet lights.  While you may pay a few bucks more on your electric bill, a dark house simply won’t sell.