HOW TO MAKE YOUR FSBO OPEN HOUSE SHINE: TIPS THAT CONVERT BUYERS
Open Houses: Explore, Engage, Experience the Journey with your buyers
Are you thinking about selling your home FSBO? It’s a smart tactic for sellers in a hot market. Especially if a home is in exceptional condition, scarce homes often sell themselves when they’re scarce. The open house is one of the most popular methods to showcase a home for sale, and while agents usually run the event, FSBOs can certainly do it themselves. The process can be easily understood if you know a little about it. FSBO open houses can be effective if you follow these tips.
Making the right plans
We suggest knowing your area’s open house schedule. If most homes are open on Sunday, you should do the same, even if you also hold an open house on Saturday. Consider extending your open house by an hour before and after. When buyers have a packed weekend schedule, this extra time can allow them to view your house.
It’s best to post it early, by Wednesday at the latest. During that time, buyers begin to get bored at work and plan their weekend open houses. A full docket may already exist by Thursday or Friday if you wait until then.
Safety comes first
The key to being a successful FSBO seller is to be extra cautious since there is no agent to buffer you. Organize the open house with the help of a friend. You want someone with your visitors at all times, not only to ensure your safety but also to prevent them from wandering around your home alone. If you are interested in leading a tour or answering questions, think of friends or family.
In addition, all valuable items and medications should be stored away. An open house held by an FSBO might make your house appear a good target for a shifty character who might assume there is not enough staff to handle it properly.
Get your home staged like a pro
For everyday showings, you should do this anyway, but open houses are an occasion when you should make your home shine. It is not just about keeping everything clean but highlighting its best features as well. You should reposition furniture to create symmetrical conversation spaces in your home to make it look as functional as possible.
We suggest turning small or quirky spaces into charming areas by putting a kids’ nook under the stairs or creating a yoga corner in the basement.
The kitchen is also a good place to end home tours, according to her. Your buyers should be able to envision entertaining guests and feeding their loved ones in the kitchen. Snacks and beverages can be offered to encourage them to linger.
Create a welcoming atmosphere in your home
Then be ready to greet your guests by performing one last walkthrough to ensure that the lights are on and the blinds are open. You can wave people in by standing outside or getting a chair and sitting by the window. It might not be worth their time to ring the bell if they feel that they are bothering you. It is important to make it clear that you are waiting for them.
Murtland suggests asking them for their name and contact information rather than asking them to sign in (which they might not do or their information might be illegible). As well as giving you the chance to chat with them, you can also find out how long they have been looking for. Is this their first time here? Has anything caught their attention? Don’t forget to share all the things you love about the neighborhood. Consider jotting down a short note about your conversation topics so that your follow-up is personalized.
It’s always a good idea to follow up. There might be someone they know who is house hunting, even if they are just looking for fun. In addition to getting feedback on what they liked about the home, if they are candid, it can also be helpful to obtain feedback on what they did not like about it. The agent will sometimes do some gentle probing to find out if any changes would improve the house’s marketability.
When you host an open house professionally, you’ll be able to showcase your property in its best light.
