If you’ve decided you’re ready to sell your Vancouver Westside real estate, one of the first things you’re going to want to schedule is an Open House. Before you open your front door to the public, there are a few things you’ll have to do to ready your house for the big day. Here are a few ways to get your home Open House ready.
5 Tips for Getting your Home ready for an Open House
Clean and De-clutter
You probably know that buyers will be interested in a house that’s sparkly clean, but you may not realize just how important it is to dust and de-clutter every inch of the house. First impressions are very important when dealing with the competitive housing market. If the first thing your potential buyer sees is a messy living room that needs a good vacuuming, their opinion of your house will already be negative. Seeing a house that’s so clean it shines will give viewers a positive overall first impression.
De-personalize
You want your potential buyers to be able to envision living in your house, and if they see pictures of you and your family everywhere they won’t be able to do that. Knickknacks and other personal items of that nature will also make it harder for your buyer to see themselves in the house. For now, put away the pictures of your family and the teacups your grandmother gave you. You’ll be able to bring them back out later, when the Open House is over.
Make Repairs
If you’ve been meaning to get your squeaky refrigerator door fixed for ages, now is the time to do it. If your buyers see a broken appliance, they’ll start thinking about how much it will cost to fix it. For your buyer, every broken item they see adds another consideration to the price of your house. If the price adds up too much, they’ll walk away.
Paint the House
Painting the house is another cost buyers will add to their list if your paint is old and faded. So spend an afternoon repainting the walls of your house. If you just had your house repainted recently, you can skip this step.
Let the House go Emotionally
This is one of the hardest parts of getting ready for the Open House, especially since it’s a bit abstract. You’re not going to be able to talk about the house like it’s an object you’re trying to sell if you keep thinking about memories and what the place means to you. So do whatever you need to do to distance yourself from the house, and then open the doors to your potential new buyers.
Getting ready for an Open House doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Just be sure to make your house as clean, uncluttered, and new-looking as you can, and you’re sure to get people interested. If you’re ready to stage your Open House, please contact us.
