Selling your home – the open house day!

If you’re selling your home in Brampton, you know that on any particular weekend, you are competing with hundreds of other open houses. Although open houses do not draw the same crowds as they used to in the 80′s before the advent of MLS.ca, they are still an opportunity to get potential buyers into your home. If you’ve committed to an open house, you want ensure you make the best first impression! Here are 5 tips on how to make the most of your open house.

1. Make sure your house is tidy and the little problems are fixed. This may seem obvious to most of you, but there have been countless times where I’ve walked into an open house that was far from ‘showing’ form. Clean up the important rooms such as the front hallway where people first walk in, the kitchen, the master bedroom, and all the washrooms. Gleaming tiles, clear windows, and polished hardwood make a great impression. Make sure leaky faucets are fixed, squeaky spots on floors are taken care of, and walls should be freshly painted or super clean.
2. De-clutter your house. You may find the trinkets and flea market figurines cute, but that’s your personal taste. Buyers may not share your love for Snoopy. Put away things that line up the counters and crowd your cabinets. Remember, the idea is to make as much space as possible. The more space is perceived, the better chance you have of snagging a buyer.
3. De-personalize. Put away the family photos and take down the kid’s pictures from the fridge. You want buyers to feel like it’s their home, not yours. The only way potential buyers can picture themselves in your home is without you in it!
4. Add those little touches. There’s a reason why showroom homes look so great. Bring out the fresh towels and stage your bathroom. Prop up all your pillows and make the bed with new sheets. Make sure your home smells inviting – a subtle fragrance from a pleasant air freshener will do wonders! Buyers notice all the little details, so you should too!
5. Hold a pre-open house. If you plan on holding your open house from 12pm – 4pm, why not hold an early open house at 11am for your neighbours? Your neighbours will feel great for the invite, while your real estate agent can focus on serious buyers during the actual open house.

An open house doesn’t have to be a scary event. With proper preparation and a little sound advice from your real estate agent, you may just find the perfect buyers for your home!

Tagged as: brampton, home, open house, real Estate, sell