How to run an open house
Ok, so you’ve decided to have an open house, and you’ve thoroughly prepared your home, created sign-in sheets, done your advertising and worded up your family on the rules.
Now it’s crunch time. Your open house is about to… well… open! What else do you need to do to make sure it’s super successful?
As a final step, there are a few essential things you need to know so you can hold the best open house possible. Here’s our list of 7 things to check off your to-do list:
How to run an open house – final steps.
- Firstly, prepare yourself emotionally. You could get many people at your open house – or you may get none. If you don’t get any visitors, don’t be discouraged. Carefully review your listing and go back over our guide to prepare for an open house to figure out what went wrong.
- When the open house starts, have everything ready and be present. People should be able to walk straight in upon arrival. Make sure you’re present for the entire duration you advertised the property as open.
- When people do arrive, you should have a sign in sheet for them. Try to get as many people as possible to fill this out with their basic contact details. This lets you follow up with each person who’s been through the property.
- Once they’re inside, don’t just stand there. Be friendly and develop a rapport with them. Answer any questions they have, and to point out some of your property’s best features that might otherwise go unnoticed. You can also use this time to qualify buyers. Ask them questions about their ability to buy the property. Do they have finance pre-approved? Do they need to sell their property before they can buy yours? Don’t be shy, every agent asks these questions.
- Pay attention to buyer’s feedback. Not all feedback will necessarily be “right” – but buyers are entitled to their opinions. At worst, their feedback can give you an insight into how they view your property, which can help make your marketing more effective. At best, feedback can help you address issues that may stop someone from purchasing in the future. Make sure to stay neutral about feedback, as hard as this can be.
- As people leave, make sure they take a reminder with them. A simple one-page flyer or postcard will suffice. it should summarise your property’s key features, price, address, and list your direct contact details. This is also another opportunity to incentivise buyers. Something as simple as taping a wrapped mintie or boiled lolly to the flyer can ensure buyers take it with them and help your property stand out in their memories.
- Lastly, make sure you follow up. You could ask buyers to indicate on the sign-in sheet if they prefer email or phone contact. If possible, phone is best. A simple call a week later to ask for their impression of the property can go a long way. If they’re not interested right now, you can also ask them if they’d like to be advised of any price reductions or offers.
There are so many elements to running a successful open house – we could write 10 blogs on the subject! We hope the tips help you get started and you find the the perfect buyer for your home.
Don’t forget to tell us how your first open house went, and let us know if you have any extra recommendations for other sellers on what’s worked for you.
Want to know how to sell your house on the big property portals? Andrew Blachut’s best-selling Amazon Kindle book ‘Get More For Your Home’ is a great guide. Check it out here.