6 Errors to Avoid When Having an Open House
When it comes to the big decision to move, you need to keep a couple of things in mind. You need to collaborate with a Realtor who can help sell your home and assist with purchasing a new property. When it comes to selling your home, in addition to competing with other homes prices, you want to get the best value for your home.
With an experienced Waltham Realtor, you will get the best price for your home based on the true worth of your home. One of the most important parts of the selling process is the open house. This is where that ever-so-important first impression is made, as potential buyers walk through your home envisioning their family residing in the house. When you are ready to have open houses, there are some things you will want to avoid. Below are six errors to avoid when having an open house when selling your house in Waltham, MA.
Don’t Leave Your Home Dirty or Cluttered
Even though it seems like common sense when having an open house, you will be surprised by some of the clutter homeowners forget to clean before a showing. Having a cluttered and dirty home for a showing is the biggest mistake you can make and will ensure a lack of sale for your home. Some people think buyers will overlook your clutter and focus on the potential of the home with their vision. However, this is an assumption you should avoid making. Things that tend to be overlooked by homeowners in Waltham, MA are beds, closets and small amounts of clutter that may not seem significant.
They may not seem to be major areas to clean but they should not be overlooked. If there seems to be uncleanliness in the house, they may be turned away. Make sure your bed is made before the showing, your closets are uncluttered and cleaned out, and picking up any pile of clutter on the ground is critical.
The Exterior Matters
When people think of open houses they think of only looking at the inside of a house. This mindset has them making the interior of their home looking spotless, while forgetting about the outside of the house. You should take into consideration that potential buyers will be outside and that people like to have a good-looking house inside and out.
To prep for this, plant some flowers along the house or in a garden. Clear up your driveway and make it look welcoming, get rid of any items on your roof or in your backyard. You can also trim shrubs and bushes around your house if you have them, especially if they are blocking windows. Essentially you will want to remove anything you may think will turn a potential home buyer away from your house.
Plan Something the Day of Your Open House
Some homeowners ask to be present during an open house. They feel like they can answer questions about the home since they previously lived there, promote the house and to make sure all goes smoothly. However, by being at your own open house you are just hindering your chances of selling the property more than helping them. This is because buyers will not say what they are truly thinking because they know the owner is there. They may feel pressured to only say nice things without being true to themselves.
If you are working with a good real estate agent in Waltham, MA you will want to have them handle the open house. They are the professionals after all, with knowledge of how to close deals and make sure buyers are pulled in the right direction.
No Kids & No Pets
Children and pets are adorable and put a smile on everyone’s face, but they should not be around during an open house. You do not want to be in a situation where you are showing a house and there is an accident that happens that could distract buyers. Having a dog barking while providing vital information to buyers during a showing could be annoying. Avoid that worst-case scenario all together by having any pets out of the house.
During a showing, you want the full attention of buyers to be on the house and the agent providing the information. Not to have the buyer’s attention be on your cute children or pets.
Remove Photos & Religious/Political Accessories
The purpose of a showing is to attract a buyer to agree to purchase your house for sale in Waltham, MA. To do that, they need to picture their family inside of the house and not yours. By having too many photos around the house of your family, you are defeating the purpose of them picturing their family when all they can see is yours.
Another thing to consider is if you have anything around your house that signifies your political or religious beliefs. A neutral atmosphere is the best kind of atmosphere for your house to have when there is an open house. Buyers do not care for your beliefs, so get rid of anything that could be a distraction and takes away from the value of the home.
Have No Limitations
Everyone knows that a house should look its best during a showing to sell your home. Do whatever you can to make every room in your house inviting, clutter free and clean. You do not want to limit your buyers to the amount of rooms they can see. It could potentially be their house one day, so there shouldn’t be a room they cannot enter during an open house. Take the time to fully clean every room top to bottom if you are looking to sell your home.