Advice on selling a home

[sgluckadoo]

What is your opinion on open houses? I am having one soon and would love some tips and things buyers might think about.

[falcon9]

What is your opinion on open houses? I am having one soon and would love some tips and things buyers might think about.

One idea you might want to consider is baking some cookies just before you start letting people in for your open house.  Leave them out for the 'lookie-lews' and potential buyers alike.  Rinse and repeat.  Don't make nasty cookies ... chocolate chip works for most.

[crazyzoo]

agreed cookies work well .........also don't let yourself be offended by the lookie lew's who are down right rude and nit pick everything about your house they didn't come because they were interested in your house they came because they have no life ignore those and try not stress Good luck in selling your home

[imwicked]

What is your opinion on open houses? I am having one soon and would love some tips and things buyers might think about.

What I have seen on the sell my house kind of shows, say that less is better. They are talking about all your photos and decorations. People want to picture their things there instead of yours. The smell of home made cookies when they come in sounds great makes the house smell like a home. Good luck and best wishes.

[tantricia44]

i agree with crazyzoo suggestion, the less personal stuff you have around the house the better changes for a sale. You want to give the potential buyer a chance to visualize the future in this house as his own.

Curb appeal front & back of house should have nothing laying around.

Get a good realtor to sell your home. If you feel this person is  not doing the job fire them. You have no time for an idiot trying to sell your home.

When showing the house try not show any expression that could clue the buyer of your desperation in selling the house.

If the buyer gives you a list of things needing to be changed or fix at the cost out of your pocket in order for him to buy the house probably at a reduce cost too! Kick them out on the curb!

I know these types b/c it happened to my parents in the 90's early 2000 trying to sell our 5 bedroom 3 1/2 bath house. Large front & back yard, as small creek by the house & swimming pool in the back. My parents spent everything they had to fix up the house to sell. The dirt bag realtor got this family to buy our home for half of what it was worth + repair demands from the buyers! My parent sold our beautiful colonial home at total a loss!    Just this last week my parents passed by our old neighborhood to see the house. Mom was upset b/c that same family didn't do anything to improve the house they bought for near nothing. The front had trash on the lawn, litter & junk was clutter around the garage & front door.The paint job & repairs done at their demand was falling a part! I was so tempted to call the Home owner's association & report them!
Sorry, not trying to scare you but just don't let that happen to you. Good luck & remember if it's seems to good to be true, its probably a scam!

[CharmedPhoenix]

I used to be in real estate, in California, a long time ago.  Doing open houses was my favorite part.  Now I'm into set decor.

Their first impression is formed before they get to the door so make sure you have good curb appeal.  It doesn't have to be fancy, just well groomed.  A fresh coat of paint on the exterior can be helpful.  Appearances are everything.

Cookies are a good idea.  Sugar or chocolate chip are best.  If you don't want to go to that trouble or you don't bake just set your oven on low and place a bottle of vanilla in it.  It'll fill the house with the sent of mother/grandma, home.  Avoid artificial scents as many people are sensitive or allergic.  Likewise, avoid strong cleaner scents.  Open up the windows and let the fresh air in, at least for a while.

If you have kids arrange for them to stay with someone for the day.

Board pets with a friend or neighbor for the day so they don't get stressed out or in the way.  You'll also avoid triggering someone's allergies.  (A good vacuuming will help with that too of course.)

Remove all family photos, and anything else that has your personality all over it.  You might even store some of your furniture to lighten up the space and give the house a more spacious feeling.

Make sure everything works and looks in good repair.  Appearances are everything.  The devil is in the details.

Open up all your curtains and let in lots of natural light.

Make sure the view from all your windows is as pleasant as you can make it.

Remember you're selling a house, not your home.  The buyer has to feel at home and mentally move in.

Print up a fact sheet with one or more photos of the house to give to people.

Be nice/polite to everyone.  You never know where a referral will come from.  I'm not saying to take abuse, but keep your cool and be diplomatic. 

Finally consider hiring a professional realtor.  A good one will put you at ease and handle all the stressful parts.  Pick someone you're comfortable with then turn the open house over to them.  It's often more comfortable for prospective buyers to look without the owners being present.

Good luck.   

[sgluckadoo]

I used to be in real estate, in California, a long time ago.  Doing open houses was my favorite part.  Now I'm into set decor.

Their first impression is formed before they get to the door so make sure you have good curb appeal.  It doesn't have to be fancy, just well groomed.  A fresh coat of paint on the exterior can be helpful.  Appearances are everything.

Cookies are a good idea.  Sugar or chocolate chip are best.  If you don't want to go to that trouble or you don't bake just set your oven on low and place a bottle of vanilla in it.  It'll fill the house with the sent of mother/grandma, home.  Avoid artificial scents as many people are sensitive or allergic.  Likewise, avoid strong cleaner scents.  Open up the windows and let the fresh air in, at least for a while.

If you have kids arrange for them to stay with someone for the day.

Board pets with a friend or neighbor for the day so they don't get stressed out or in the way.  You'll also avoid triggering someone's allergies.  (A good vacuuming will help with that too of course.)

Remove all family photos, and anything else that has your personality all over it.  You might even store some of your furniture to lighten up the space and give the house a more spacious feeling.

Make sure everything works and looks in good repair.  Appearances are everything.  The devil is in the details.

Open up all your curtains and let in lots of natural light.

Make sure the view from all your windows is as pleasant as you can make it.

Remember you're selling a house, not your home.  The buyer has to feel at home and mentally move in.

Print up a fact sheet with one or more photos of the house to give to people.

Be nice/polite to everyone.  You never know where a referral will come from.  I'm not saying to take abuse, but keep your cool and be diplomatic. 

Finally consider hiring a professional realtor.  A good one will put you at ease and handle all the stressful parts.  Pick someone you're comfortable with then turn the open house over to them.  It's often more comfortable for prospective buyers to look without the owners being present.

Good luck.   

Thanks for the info. Much of this I have done and some I havent and dont have time to at this point and would create a new set of problems (removing photos).   My realtor cant do open the house sunday and suggested i do it since there is a sort of house extravaganza on sunday. I have cleaned til i can barely walk, but i DO know that the details matter- I just wish I could get my husband to understand this!!!

[sgluckadoo]

agreed cookies work well .........also don't let yourself be offended by the lookie lew's who are down right rude and nit pick everything about your house they didn't come because they were interested in your house they came because they have no life ignore those and try not stress Good luck in selling your home

Thanks, hopefully I wont get any who openly say bad things. you would think people would just keep it to themselves, since they dont have to buy it if they dont like it.

[sgluckadoo]

What is your opinion on open houses? I am having one soon and would love some tips and things buyers might think about.

One idea you might want to consider is baking some cookies just before you start letting people in for your open house.  Leave them out for the 'lookie-lews' and potential buyers alike.  Rinse and repeat.  Don't make nasty cookies ... chocolate chip works for most.

Thanks. I have cookies (store bought) and cookie scented candles/diffusers throughout the house. It is supposed to be in the 90s so I plan to have ice cold waters in a cute patio bin on the patio.

[reiddb]

I'm glad you asked this...we are about to put our house up as well.  I know when I go to a house to look, I just look for what interests me, I don't care that there is furniture and stuff in there.  Actually, furniture helps me.  I like seeing other ideas for decorating.  The right person will see it and want it, no matter what! Hope it goes well!

[falcon9]

Thanks. I have cookies (store bought) and cookie scented candles/diffusers throughout the house. It is supposed to be in the 90s so I plan to have ice cold waters in a cute patio bin on the patio.

Okay, that may be enough, (sometimes there's enough difference between scented candles and the real deal - even with the store-bought cookies for some people to tell).  Although, with it being in the 90s there, maybe baked some the night before when it's cooler?

[sgluckadoo]

I'm glad you asked this...we are about to put our house up as well.  I know when I go to a house to look, I just look for what interests me, I don't care that there is furniture and stuff in there.  Actually, furniture helps me.  I like seeing other ideas for decorating.  The right person will see it and want it, no matter what! Hope it goes well!

I feel this way also, but know that many people dont

I figured this out watching house hunters on TV.  for example, the couple who doesnt by the house they are shown bc they dont like the carpet or the color of the bedroom... like that cant be changed??

I can see past stuff, but i guess not everyone can.

[Tresbn00]

I think that open houses are a nice way for the neighbors to come, compare notes, perhaps get decorating ideas, confirm thoughts that they have about you, and disagree with whatever price you place on the house.  I believe that less than one percent of the people will be new to the neighborhood and an even smaller percentage, of that one percent, will actually think about buying your place.  The foot traffic will mess up your house and you will begin to worry about things in your house disappearing.  Realtors hold open houses so that the sellers think that the realtors are earning their commission.  Metrolist and a buyer's realtor will end up getting your house sold without any headaches.

[sgluckadoo]

I think that open houses are a nice way for the neighbors to come, compare notes, perhaps get decorating ideas, confirm thoughts that they have about you, and disagree with whatever price you place on the house.  I believe that less than one percent of the people will be new to the neighborhood and an even smaller percentage, of that one percent, will actually think about buying your place.  The foot traffic will mess up your house and you will begin to worry about things in your house disappearing.  Realtors hold open houses so that the sellers think that the realtors are earning their commission.  Metrolist and a buyer's realtor will end up getting your house sold without any headaches.

You sound like my husband. Might be right, too, i dont really know. I like to go to them. I went to several when i was looking to buy several years ago. My realtor said that they rarely work, but i guess it is sort of a desperate measure bc the market is so BAD.

[sgluckadoo]

well it ended up that there were storms scattered across the state, although we had mostly sunny weather. needless to say, no one showed up. i checked in with the realtor and other agents and they had little to no traffic either. i busted my rump for 4 days and for what? huge disappointment.