Take a Tip Tuesday, Tips for Ascension Parish “Open House” Sellers

Take a Tip Tuesday

Tips for Ascension Parish “Open House” Sellers

It’s an exciting time when you put your home on the market. The news of your first upcoming open house may make you a little nervous. You’ll have images of people swarming in your home to preview it.  The truth of the matter is, that in Ascension Parish Sunday open house is popular, but rarely do you get an offer from them.  And the swarms of eager buyers putting in offers over asking price are only on TV shows.  Even in this HOT market, an open house is just an introduction, almost like an opening act to a play.  Buyers come through and at a later date, they come back with their agent to get a better feel for the home, if they liked it at the open house.

How To Get Buyers To Like Your Ascension Parish Home Best?

Like I said, this is the opening act, so you want to make the best first impression. I know you’ve heard to de-clutter.  But what does “de-clutter” really mean? In the real estate world, it means to remove and store away any personal items like family photos, or shoes lying around. Hide your dog/cat bed and toys, remove any shoes by the door, hanging towels that aren’t decorative and make sure all your laundry is folded and put away.  Prior to the open house would be a perfect time to tidy up those closets, and that garage you have been ignoring for years should be swept out and organized.

Prepare For Your Safety

For the most part, the buyer’s coming through your home are there to just look at your home to possibly purchase it.  On occasion, you’ll get people who are there for a completely different reason. I’ve heard stories of people taking valuables, prescription drugs and even worse, firearms have been stolen from a home.  A REALTOR® does follow buyers through a home but these types who are there to steal know how to manipulate their way into getting what they want.  Usually, there is only one agent in a home during an open house and they cannot be in all rooms at all times. Your best plan or action is to hide, remove or store any and all valuable items.

Prepare Your Head

Like I mentioned before, you can get caught up with the idea of an open house, but you really shouldn’t stress over it. Take the four hours that possible buyers are walking through your home to go out to the park, or go watch a movie.  You don’t really want to dwell on what’s going on in your home.  When it’s time to head back to the house, check with your agent to see how the open house went to ease any anxiety you may have and get feedback. Your agent should have some good info to give you from the people who walked through.  This is extremely helpful when you have a future showing so you can address any problems.

Good luck with your open house!

If you’d like some more information about selling your home, please feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to being a service to you and your housing needs.

“Because YOU Matter”

Your Real Estate Whisperer

Kristina Smallhorn