If you're trying to sell a house now, it's likely that you're seeing a bit of a slowdown in traffic. Yes, in many parts of the U.S. it's getting harder to sell a house. As such, you need to do all you can to set your house apart from the crowd. And one way to do this is to maximize the effectiveness of the old tried-and-true house marketing tactic, the open house.
Here are five tips for a better open house from MSN:
1. Clean and repair your home.
2. De-clutter.
3. De-personalize.
4. Consider holding an early viewing just for the locals.
5. Promote heavily.
I've bought and sold a handful of houses and I can vouch that these are good tips. Better yet, during the house-hunting visits we made while looking to buy, I've seen probably 100 different homes -- all in various states -- and, as such, I can say that these are GREAT tips. Here are my thoughts on each of them:
1. This should go without saying, but you wouldn't believe the state some people leave their homes in. We bought our current home for thousands less than we would have paid simply because the owners didn't clean up and do a few minor repairs when they moved out.
2. One house we saw was FILLED (and when I say "filled", I mean it -- the hallways, bedrooms, etc. were stuffed) with life-size suits of armor. Yes, you read that correctly -- armor. As in Knights of the Roundtable armor. It was pretty spooky just to be in that place, but we couldn't really even see it since it was so packed with armor.
Another house we saw was cluttered with stuff all over the hallways (various household items) and while we were looking in one of the bedrooms, we realized that there was even human clutter -- someone was asleep in the un-made bed with covers pulled over their head. Exit stage right.
3. Just one word here: armor. Stay away from it and all your other strange collections. Rent a facility if need be and store them. This goes for pets too. Even if you have the cleanest pet in the world, the sight of one (or a picture of one for that matter) will turn many buyers off.
4. Everyone has to deal with the nosy neighbors who've wanted to see your house for the past 10 years you've lived there and they haven't been invited to (often for good reason). Plus, they're interested in what you're selling for, how it's going, etc. -- both to be nosy but also to judge how well their house would sell and what it would go for. Get them in early and give them some cookies when they leave -- they won't leave crumbs, but the house will smell of fresh-baked cookies for all those "real" potential buyers coming to see the place later.
5. Tell EVERYONE you know about the open house -- friends, neighbors, relatives, people at church, club members, etc. Even tell people who don't live in your city. You never know who will know someone who knows someone who will be a potential buyer. Don't leave anyone out.
Good tips! A good friend of mine is a very successful real estate investor. Her passion is reahbbing and selling (although she does it all! lol) She was telling me the other day that contractors had installed the cabinent handles wrong, and the only way to fix it was to replace the cabinent doors. She was disappointed and told me this: "God is in the details". They really are what can make or break a sale, or anything.
Posted by: prlinkbiz | August 01, 2006 at 11:32 AM