Real Estate Sales Are All About the Details

Holding an open house event is one of the best ways to sell a home. Prospective buyers respond to many different stimuli when evaluating real estate. Deciding on a new place to call home isn’t just about square footage and number of bedrooms for most. Since the seller and his or her agent don’t know many of the people attending an open house, creating appeal with as many buyers as possible is important. Here are some ideas to help sellers realize this goal:

Pets and Small Children

Many people love dogs, cats, birds, and other pets, but it’s best not to assume that Fido, Fluffy or Polly are positive selling features. Take pets to day care or arrange for a pet sitter outside of the home on the day of the open house.

When the seller has an infant or small children, it’s important for safety reasons to arrange for grandma or an offsite babysitter during the open house. According to “Open House Murders,” bad things sometimes happen during these events.

Clean the Yard and Patio

With Fido, Fluffy, or kids in mind, it’s important to pick up toys or pet residue from the yard or outdoor areas. Make sure that the flower bed looks great and that shrubs are trimmed, too. A fresh coat of paint or stain on the deck or fence will also make a good first impression on prospective buyers and agents, too.

Refresh and Relax

It’s nice to offer something to eat at an open house, but it’s best to keep it simple. Finger foods, such as cut fruits and vegetables, are both refreshing and healthy for all. It’s important to consider floors and carpets when offering foods at an open house because some people are likely to eat while they browse around the property.

Kuba Jewgieniew is the CEO of Realty ONE Group. He began Realty ONE Group in 2005, and it is now the seventh largest real-estate brokerage in the United States.