While some believe the ‘open house’ is a dated idea, statistics show that a big chunk of home buyers make their real estate purchases through this method. The open house is the real estate agent’s way of inviting the public to preview a home listed for sale whether in Durant, OK or elsewhere. So, what does it take to make your open house event a smashing success? Read on to find out!

1. TECHNOLOGY IS YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND

A good real estate agent will make sure your open house event is on every prospec-tive buyer’s radar, by publicizing it online. Getting onto platforms and networks where they know your buyers may be lurking.  Besides MLS listings, classified ads are one of the better ways of advertising your open house.

2. PRESENTATION IS EVERYTHING

Needless to say, in an open house event, the first impression is the only impression you’ve got.

• Spruce up your home’s exterior by clearing pathways, mowing lawns and in-vesting in some basic garden maintenance. A new coat of paint will pay for itself many times over. Keep interiors spic and span, clutter-free and odor-less. Clear hallways and staircases to allow easy navigation.
• Give an impression of brightness, by opening windows (if the weather per-mits), drawing apart all the curtains, and turning on all the lights. Keep your closets neatly arranged and half-empty to show largeness.
• Although you shouldn’t skimp on minor renovations (get a paint job, or gleaming new kitchen counters), major renovations should never be consid-ered prior to an upcoming open house, as this may cause unintended compli-cations. Simply put, it’s just never a good idea to start thinking about adding a new addition a few months before your open house.
• Use soft instrumental music to set a relaxed mood without cutting out con-versation. Put a pot of aromatic coffee to brew, serve snacks, and get ready to chat.

3. PROMOTE THE BIG DAY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

One way of significantly increasing foot traffic to your open house is by teaming up with other home sellers in your neighborhood to organize a coordinated open house. A locally-based real estate agent can easily organize this and leverage the other home seller’s traffic, by hosting an open house on the same day.

Ideally several days before your event, start putting up signs around your neighbor-hood. Remember – buyers pick up clues from the quality of your signboard. A runny hand-painted sign screams ‘cheap’, while an aesthetic signboard bearing your real-estate agent’s logo would fetch in higher value customers.

Don’t forget about some of your own neighbors! Invite your next-doors into your open house for a snack and a chat. Your neighbors can turn out to be a great source of leads. For those looking to sell in the Durant, Ok area and elsewhere, your neigh-bors should be a part of your home selling strategy.

4. TUCK AWAY VALUABLES (AND THAT INCLUDES PETS!)

Expect your guests to poke into closets and cabinets. Avoid chances of theft by put-ting away your valuables in a locker or storage unit.

While you might think that a pet instantly livens up a home (and I would agree!), not everyone is comfortable around animals. Moreover, animals might be made nervous by the sheer number of visitors pouring in. Put your pooch or kitty in a pet hostel for the day, I say!

When a prospective buyer looks at a house, she likes to imagine herself living there. Make it easier, by putting away personal items like family photographs, children’s sketches or personalized décor.

Safety first! Open houses are often marked by burglars as easy targets. However, your local real estate agent can keep you out of harm’s way, by taking basic measures like notifying the local police station about the event.

5. COLLECT AND PROVIDE INFO

As a best practice, having information ready for prospective buyers as they enter is a must! Having a registration desk by the front door, and collecting contact info is equally as important. I normally ask buyers how they found out about the event, and what exactly they are looking for. Before they leave, I ask them for feedback.

Providing relevant information is key here. Start by putting up pictures and details about neighbourhood utilities like parks, day-care centres, common swimming pools, etc. Hand out flyers with flattering pictures and details of your home, as well as fi-nancing options at a glance. Display inspection reports, appraisals, home warranties, etc. in a prominent location for prospective buyers to see.

Now that you know how to perform a successful open house, let’s set up a call to see if I would be the right person to sell your home in Durant, OK.