How to Prepare and Plan an Open House

Hosting an open house is one of the best ways to sell your home quickly. It generates interest and allows potential buyers to see it at its best. Here is how you can make your open home the best it can be.

Clean and Polish

To say your home should be cleaned within an inch of its life is an understatement. If you host an open house that is dirty, people might wonder how well you take care of your home. Make sure you scour every part of your home. Polish what can be polished. Vacuum the carpets and the drapes. Have the windows glistening. Don’t overlook bedding and towels, either. Try to look at places that are normally overlooked, including baseboards, ceiling fans, and door ledges. Prospective buyers will check everything, so run through at least twice. Polish your metallic fixtures, and organize your drawers. People will check your cupboards for space, and an organized cupboard looks more spacious than a cluttered one. If you have a pet, it may be best to remove all signs of them, as you never know how a potential buyer will feel about animals. Put away their dishes, food, and toys.

Fresh Scent

You may be nose blind to the smells of your own home. If possible, after cleaning, have a friend come by and see if they can smell anything unpleasant. This is especially important if you have pets. While there are ways to eliminate pet stains and odors, such as with specific cleaners or baking soda, it may be time to bring in a professional. When looking at different companies, make sure they have experience with pet smells and know your chief concern is pet smell in the home. Once the pet smell has been cleared, open your windows to let in fresh air. Try not to mask odors with air fresheners, as artificial fragrances can make people suspicious.

Think Outside the Box

The very first thing people will see at the open house is the outside of your home. If the outside of your home has dust or dirt built up, power wash it. Wipe down the outside of your windows, and make sure the gutters look cleaned. If your front door and mailbox look weathered, add a new coat of paint to both. Consider adding a new mat for the entryway to your home. To add a pop of color without painting your home something garish, place a pot or two of flowers along the walkway to your home or at the front door. If you need to, re-sod any bald patches of lawn. Is your house number visible from the curb? If not, it may be time to replace it. If you have patio furniture, make sure it looks fresh and new.

Minor Repairs

Every homeowner knows how our houses can show wear and tear very quickly. If you have scratched floorboards, either from pets or regular wear and tear, you can easily fix those yourself with a little elbow grease. Damaged plaster is also something you should repair, as it can make a home look like it has fallen into disrepair. Fill them, and throw on some fresh paint to have a cohesive look. Look at the tile in your bathroom and kitchen. Is it discolored, or has it started to come away in chunks? You can re-grout them yourself very easily. It can make a bathroom go from somewhat dingy to looking brand new and clean. Don’t forget to seal it when you’re done, so it stays looking nice.

During the open house, you want the home to look amazing. If you clean, repair, and update your home, you’ll be on the right track to preparing for your upcoming event. It takes work, but with a bit of help, you may have an enjoyable and successful open house.

Image Courtesy of Pixabay.com