Tuesday, August 28, 2018 / by Leon Zhivelev
5 Simple Techniques to Make Your Open House Successful
Written and Contributed By: Erin Reynolds

When your home is on the market, an open house is a great opportunity for showing it off to
When your home is on the market, an open house is a great opportunity for showing it off to
multiple prospective buyers in a single afternoon. Of course, how well it goes depends largely
on how well you prepare. Obviously, you want the house to be as clean as possible. But there
are other steps you can take that will increase your chances of a successful showing.
Curb Appeal
The first thing people will see as they drive up for a showing is your lawn and the front of your
house. Therefore, if these components are weak or unappealing, you’re starting off on the
house. Therefore, if these components are weak or unappealing, you’re starting off on the
wrong foot. Enhancing your curb appeal doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Simple lawn
maintenance (mowing, trimming, etc.) will go a long way. Consider replacing your old house
numbers with new ones, and put in a nice mailbox. Also, consider throwing a bright coat of paint
on your front door and adding some new flower boxes. If you have a walkway, make sure it’s in
good shape, and repair/replace it if necessary.
It’s also a good idea to compare your home to others in the neighborhood. For instance, if you
have an average house in North Bay Village, Florida, where the median sale price for a home is
$255,000, you don’t want lack of curb appeal to keep you from hitting that mark. While it’s fine
for your property to have character, you want to cater to buyers who are interested in that area.
Decluttering
When a prospective buyer comes to view your home, chances are they’ll want to see all of the
home. That’s why decluttering every area is so important. Get rid of any useless items, and
consider renting a storage unit to keep important personal items. Along with showcasing the
living room, kitchen, and bathrooms, you’ll also want to tidy all of these areas:
- Entryway
- Hallways
- Storage rooms
- Closets
- Laundry room
- Any offices and/or playrooms
Not only does a room look clean when it’s decluttered, but the space is maximized as well.
Professional Cleaning
Though you can do all the cleaning yourself, hiring a professional cleaning service can relieve a
lot of stress. Having your home professionally cleaned can take years off the appearance of
your interior — especially if you have pets or artistic toddlers. Not only will you be saved time
and energy, but professionals will be able to thoroughly clean all the areas you’ve been
dreading the most (i.e. bathrooms, baseboards, hard-to-reach corners, etc.). Also, many
professionals will provide all the necessary supplies.
Removing Personal Items
Along with decluttering and cleaning, you want to make sure you depersonalize your home.
While your house is on the market, it should be showroom-ready 100 percent of the time. This
means removing any family photos, pet photos, motivational posters, childrens’ artwork, etc.
The primary goal of a showing is for buyers to visualize themselves in the home. Removing
personal items and creating as much space as possible allows for that.
Painting Neutral Colors
Painting all the rooms light, neutral colors is another great way to create a blank canvas for
buyers. This includes various hues of white, beige, cream, gray, and greige. If you’re afraid that
having all neutral tones will simply make your home too boring, colors such as powder blue,
late blue, periwinkle, marigold yellow, or brick red can add value to your home without
overwhelming buyers. The important thing is that your home looks as tasteful as possible.
Depending on the size of the house, this could mean painting all the walls white or having
various shades of gray and the occasional bright accent wall.
When done the right way, an open house can be a homeowner’s best friend. Just remember to
pay attention to your curb appeal, declutter, and depersonalize your home. Also, consider
getting the home professionally cleaned and painting the rooms neutral colors. Taking care of