Hosting a successful open house

FALLBROOK – When selling their homes, homeowners can employ several strategies in an effort to drum up interest among potential buyers. First of all, if you are selling a home, it is important to use a local realtor who has connections to help sell the home faster and understands the local area. Secondly, open houses are helpful, which invite prospective buyers to tour the property.

Realtors have long used open houses to introduce properties to the market, and a well-planned open house can help sellers generate numerous offers in a single day. Whether working with a local realtor or listing homes on their own, homeowners can follow a few simple tips to ensure their open house is a success.

Generate publicity online

Nowadays many prospective home buyers do the bulk of their research via their computers and devices. By advertising their open houses online, sellers have the potential to reach a wide array of buyers.

While many agents employ sites such as Zillow and Trulia, it’s important to not overlook the local online community. For instance, you can purchase online ads through Village News and the sister paper Valley News websites, which have nearly 200,000 readers per month. Also, realtors can purchase ads on Village News and Valley News Facebook pages which have a network of nearly 20,000 readers. Video is important. Make sure your online ads are linked to your video tour.

Generate publicity in traditional ways

Traditional publicity should not be overlooked when promoting an open house. Ads in the local paper where people are looking for homes in your area as well as the classifieds are an option. An inexpensive yard sign is another effective and inexpensive way to attract buyers who are driving through desirable neighborhoods looking for their next home.

Invite your neighbors

Neighbors can be great salesmen for one's home and the community where one lives. Invite friendly neighbors to the open house and encourage them to chat with prospective buyers. Buyers will appreciate neighbors' firsthand knowledge about the community, and their friendliness can help to create a strong first impression that increases buyer interest in one's home.

Consider some changes to home decor

When hosting an open house, the homeowners might not need to go so far as to stage their home, but they may want to make some changes to the decor to make their home more neutral and appealing to buyers from all walks of life. They may want to remove any potentially controversial artwork or decorative items, replacing them with more neutral items that won't offend or distract any potential buyers.

Leave the hosting to the professionals

Unless the homeowners are selling their home on their own, they should resist the temptation to attend their open house and let their realtor do the work. Their absence can make it easier for potential buyers to see themselves in the home, while their presence may make them uncomfortable or hesitant to explore the property and ask any questions.

When hosting an open house, sellers can take several steps to make their homes more appealing to buyers.