Are you planning to host an open house? Wondering how to make it a success? As a real estate agent, I’m sharing simple and effective tips that can help you make the most of your open house. Here are things to do to make your open house a success. I’m also sharing my open house checklist as a free download to help you prepare for your open house.
How to Prepare for Your Open House
Declutter
It’s important to begin decluttering your home at least a month in advance of listing it. This way, your home will be free of clutter by the time of your open house. The aim is to put away at least half of your belongings out of sight. All flat surfaces should be free of items. Imagine entering a hotel room, that’s the level of neatness you should strive for when someone visits your home during the open house.
Clean the House
It’s important to tidy up your home before the open house. Vacuum, mop, and dust the entire house. Wipe down all the tables to make them look spotless. Ensure that the kitchen table is clear, except for a beautiful vase of flowers or a bowl of fresh fruits.
Fluff up the throw pillows on your couch and fold the throw blankets neatly. Keep the coffee table and side tables clutter-free, except for a coffee table book and a lamp. Put away everything that doesn’t belong in the living areas, such as toys, clothes, and paperwork. This way, your home will look inviting and welcoming to potential buyers.
Make Your Bedrooms Inviting
When preparing for an open house, it’s important to tidy up your bedroom to make it look inviting. To create a hotel-like ambiance, you should start by making the bed with fresh sheets and adding a bedspread with throw pillows.
Make sure that there’s no clutter on the nightstand or the desk. Remove any items from the floor, including dirty clothes. Take a quick peek inside your closet and organize it if necessary. Remember, your goal is to make your bedroom look inviting, so potential buyers can imagine themselves living there.
Clean the Kitchen
Before hosting an open house, make sure your kitchen is tidy and organized. Take some time to wipe down your kitchen counters, kitchen cabinet doors and store all dishes and food items. Try to declutter and remove small appliances, pots, and pans to create more space and give your kitchen a spacious look.
Check your fridge and make sure everything looks presentable. If it’s not, do a quick organizing and wipe down any spills. Take a peek inside your kitchen cabinets and pantry and make sure everything is in order. If not, take a few minutes to organize them.
Don’t forget to check your kitchen towels and replace them if they are not in top shape. Your goal is to make your kitchen look spotless for your open house.
Clean the Bathrooms
Preparing your bathrooms is crucial for a successful open house. Start by wiping down the bathroom counter and removing all personal items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, comb and face soaps from the counter; there should only be hand soap on the counter.
Wipe down the mirror to leave it spotless. If the shower curtain looks worn out, replace it with a new one. Same goes with the bathmat.
Make sure the towels in the bathroom are presentable, and if they look worn out, replace them with new towels. Check that there is no smell in the bathroom and clean the tub thoroughly by removing all hairs and wiping it down. You should also put away shampoo bottles and bodywash from the shower, the less clutter the better.
Make Your Garage Look Presentable
Make sure your garage looks decent for your open house. If it’s cluttered, take some time to organize it. It’s acceptable to use your garage as a storage area during your decluttering process, but make sure to stack boxes neatly and in an orderly manner for a more organized appearance.
Don’t Forget the Exterior
Don’t overlook the exterior of your home when preparing for an open house. Take a walk around the outside and remove any clutter from the patio and porch.
Make sure your patio furniture looks tidy and inviting, and add some cushions if it’s summertime. If your doormat looks worn, buy a new one.
Also, give your front door a quick wipe to remove any dust and sweep your front porch. Check your lawn and make sure it’s mowed and well-kept.
To enhance your curb appeal, add some cheery flowers to your flower bed and planters on your front porch. These small touches can make a good first impression.
Make Your Home Smell Good
Make sure to do a quick sniff test of your home and take care of any unwanted odors before the open house. To air out your home, open the windows a few hours before the open house to get rid of any lingering smells.
If you want to add a light scent, you can use diffuser sticks. But be careful not to make it overwhelming; just a subtle scent will do.
If the weather permits, keep some windows open during the open house to get fresh air circulating in your house. This will help create a comfortable and refreshing atmosphere for potential buyers.
Make Your Home Bright
Everyone wants a home that is bright. That’s why it’s important to make your home look bright and welcoming during your open house. It’s easy to do, open all the blinds and curtains to let in as much natural light as possible.
Then use lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Make sure to turn on all the lights available in your home, including pot lights, lamps, floor lamps, and whatever else you have. This will make your home look bright and cheery.
Make Your Home Feel Good
To make a great first impression during your open house, it’s important to appeal to all the senses. Aside from a bright home, play some light background music for a pleasant ambiance. Make sure that the music is neutral and not too loud.
You should also check the temperature, so that your visitors feel comfortable while they are in your home. If it is hot outside, do turn on the air conditioning. The last thing you want is for potential buyers to walk into a stuffy home!
Also, bring in some fresh flowers to add a welcoming touch to your home.
Get Rid of the Trash
Before the open house, make sure to remove the trash and hide all the trash cans in every room. Don’t forget to take out the recycling as well.
Pets
Before your open house, it’s best to hide any pet-related items such as the pet crate, toys, and accessories. This make the room less cluttered and will also appeal to potential buyers who are not into pets.
Also, don’t leave your cats or dogs at home since they can distract visitors from viewing your house.
If you have pet fish, it’s okay to leave them in the house, since they are more decorative. But make sure that your fish tank is clean and presentable. Put away any fish food and accessories so that the area doesn’t appear untidy.
Free Open House Checklist Printable
Below is my open house checklist printable. I suggest you print out copies of this checklist and use it to help you prepare for your open house. Sign up once and you will get access to ALL exclusive content on this website. After unlocking the printable, just save the printable image and then print it.
I’m a Real Estate Agent: 8 Surefire Ways to Sell Your House Fast
10 Common Home Selling Mistakes to Avoid (free home selling checklists)
The 12 Best Cities to Retire in America
9 Warning Signs that It’s Time to Downsize
You won’t believe how affordable these Florida towns are. Check out the18 Cheapest Places to Live in Florida