Open House: 8 tips for a complete success

1. Make the first impression count

Mostly the opinion of a prospective buyer has already set, before he or she has set foot in the house. Therefore it is important to bring the front garden and entrance area in their best shape on time. A nice look of the exterior will arouse the buyer’s curiosity. Impress the potential new owners with fresh wall paint, cultivated flower beds and a well visible, high gloss polished house number. Flank the entrance door or access path with beautifully planted flower pots so your house looks much more inviting. Even before you have opened the door, the potential buyers already feel at home.

2. Cleanliness is the most important

During the viewing, your visitors might immediately start imagining what it would be like to live in this house. Therefore you should present the property as clean and tidy as possible. It might be a good idea to engage professional cleaning staff. In this way, it is guaranteed that your property is in perfect condition on time for the inspection date. Have your carpets steam-cleaned, polish metal surfaces and remove unnecessary items. Potential buyers prefer neutral rooms. This makes it easier for them to visualise their own furniture in its new surroundings and to imagine where they will be putting up their children's room or office.

3. Scents

To make real estate appeal to clients, many agents believe in the seductive scent of freshly baked biscuits. If this goes too far for you, you should at least ventilate well before the visit. Bad smells, for example of aggressive cleaners, can deter potential buyers. Do not use perfumed candles or air fresheners. Sensitive visitors are often allergic to the artificial fragrances it contains. Instead, decorate your rooms with fresh cut flowers or potted plants.

4. Staging

Home staging is all about subtly bringing out the best in your home. Small details, such as modern works of art, a fruit bowl in the kitchen or a picture gallery in pretty frames, radiate homeliness. This is how you inspire prospective buyers to dream of their future home. Studies show that real estate buyers form an opinion about the property they are looking at within the first 30 seconds. Therefore, the first impression is decisive.

5. Storage possibilities

Walk-in wardrobes and shelves are an absolute must for smart buyers. Therefore, make sure that these areas are also thoroughly cleaned and cleared out. It is best to present the storage space without contents in order to convince prospective buyers of its capacity.

6. Lighting

A brightly lit interior looks generous and inviting. Rooms flooded with sunlight also spread joie de vivre and optimism. So open the curtains, pull up the blinds and make your home shine. If your windows provide a view of a breathtaking skyline or lush green hills - that’s even better!

7. Information material

Most buyers first explore the property’s online exposé and seek the advice of a broker before going to an open house viewing. Make their lives easier by creating a comprehensive datasheet with all the important information about your property. This not only benefits buyers and brokers, but yourselves, too. Print out the info material with details on square metres, fixtures and fittings and make it available to everyone. This way interested parties have all the key data at hand.

8. Feedback

Last but not least, we would like to give you the following advice: Don’t be afraid to ask the survey participants for constructive criticism. Create a guestbook to collect the contact information of all visitors. After the open house appointment, you can thank them by phone or email for coming. Meanwhile, interested parties have the opportunity to leave a short commentary or to draw comparisons with other properties.