Get Ready for an Open House in 60 Minutes

Open houses are a huge part of selling your home! This is the best way to get the most views from your house. It is extra a great way to advertise your house for sale. There are many ways to promote a home for sale, especially on the Realtors side, but open houses are one of the better ways to get your house for sale seen.

When getting ready for an open house, there are many different things a Realtor may consider doing. When I am preparing for an open house, I get all my ducks in a row, so if I am asked any questions, I can respond. I will make special flyers for the house that aren't the ones we can print off the MLS. I bake cookies, bring water bottles of my own to hand out, and my own music form, so the house feels extra welcoming and homey.

But this blog is not about what Realtors do; it is how you can prepare your house for an open house in 60 minutes or less. What I am about to go over with you could be done in 30 minutes or less, especially if you took advantage of my 30-day seller guide to preparing your house to be listed. If you did not get a copy, let me know. I would be happy to send it your way.

Let's start with you not using the 30-day seller guide and just listing your house. Your Realtor wants to host an open house, here are the things you need to get done and should only take you an hour or so to do.

DECLUTTER: this is one of the things I talk in-depth about in my seller guide. Pack away or hide as much as possible. You will want to put away family photos, take down trophies and memorabilia, clear off the countertops, clean out your pantries and cabinets. Remove as much as possible to make spaces look bigger and appear to have lots of extra room. On beds don't have a ton of throw pillows. Yes, it makes the bed look pretty, but it also fills up the spaces and makes them look smaller. In the kitchen, try to clear the counter off completely minus maybe a candle to be lighted. Ensure closets are not overflowing with stuff so people can see how big the closet truly is and make sure to pick up all clothing.

CLEAN AND DUST: It is always smart to quickly dust and vacuum the entire house. Having a clean and presentable house shows the pride you take in your home and will help the offers come flying in. When people come to an open house, they do not want to see a dirty place. They want to see the house looking as new and fresh as it possibly can. Wipe down light fixtures, clean the countertops. Mirrors should sparkle. Clean your home as if you are having family over for dinner.

CLEAN THE BATHROOMS: Make sure the bathrooms are fresh, and the toilets are cleaned. You want to make your home smell fresh and clean, and the bathrooms need to be welcoming and beautiful. Clean the mirrors, the cabinets out and off, and make sure the toilet and shower look brand new.

LIGHT A CANDLE: Lighting a candle gives the house a welcoming feeling. I tend to tell people to be cautious about what smells you pick. Some smells may not be as welcoming as you think. I always recommend something clean or citrus smelling or a candle that smells like baked goods. The smell of freshly baked cookies is still a winner, and then if your Realtor has cookies waiting for people, that full fills the whole point of the candle. Candles can also cover up any smells of your family like pets or other things. This leaves a great first impression.

TURN ON LIGHTS: this is something to do if you have extra time. Typically, the Realtor holding your open house will do this, but it is fantastic if you have time. Turning all lights on in the house gives it a bright and happy feeling, a great mood setter for the buyers looking at your home.

There are so many things you can do to prepare for an open house. These are just a few that go the longest way when getting ready for an open house. Your Realtor will be so proud and excited to show off your home with just these few things done. Small things like this go a long way to show the buyers how dedicated you are to selling your house. These simple tasks also help you get the best offer possible for your home, which is precisely why most people hold open houses to expand their options on offers.

Take the extra time it takes to prepare your house for open houses when they are scheduled. Hopefully, your Realtor takes as much time and effort into making your open house the best it can be!

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