The biggest open house myths sellers believe can unfortunately cause properties to stay unsold for longer than necessary. Although the vast majority of house hunts begin online, buyers do see homes in-person. This to spite the fact that in 2003, a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors found the first steps to finding a home occurred online 42 percent of the time. But, eleven years later, in 2014, that figure increased to 80 percent. So why is it the open house remains part of marketing homes for sale? Because it remains an important means of exposure.
Top Open House Mistakes Sellers Make
When you host an open house, you want it to be the most presentable, enticing position. Highlighting the biggest selling features is a must as is decluttering, depersonalizing, and disinfecting. However, there are several open house mistakes to avoid. Following potential buyers around the house is one big no-no. It makes people uncomfortable and doesn’t allow them to wander freely. Leaving pets and children on the premises is also a mistake.
Homes rarely sell to buyers who visited them during an open house. Agents like open houses because it enables them to find additional customers who are looking to buy or sell homes. If you or your agent choose not to have an open house, it probably doesn’t hurt your sale chances – although holding a broker’s open house for other agents may be worthwhile. —US News and World Report
Inadvertently blocking access to rooms due to unfinished or poor staging is another mistake. Leaving a mess, no matter how small or in what room is a huge blunder. Another mistake sellers should avoid is tell buyers certain things, like: bragging about a home’s “perfect condition,” never experiencing this or that problem, or giving long explanations about why you’re selling and how much you’ll miss the house.
Biggest Open House Myths Sellers Believe
Some sellers never get the opportunity to ruin open houses because they mistakenly believe these aren’t worthwhile. But this just isn’t the case because it presents you with an opportunity to share information about the neighborhood. The average open house also presents an opportunity to give potential buyers informal tours — something quick morning or evening showings do not accommodate because of their brevity. Here are some of the biggest open house myths sellers believe:
- An open house is just too much work for me to do. While it’s completely understandable you don’t want to put a lot of time and effort into hosting an open house, the fact of the matter is, that’s a constant reality when selling. In other words, you must always be ready to show your home to potential buyers. Preparing for an open house gives you a more critical eye to spot flaws you might otherwise miss.
- There’s too much going on in this area for it to work. There’s no question the Orlando real estate market is heavily active. New construction is everywhere and there’s no shortage of resales. But it’s wrong to think just because there is so much activity, your property will be overlooked. After all, there are a pool of buyers who are looking for a home like yours.
- An open house is an open invitation for nosey neighbors. Okay, so nosey neighbors will drop by, but look at this as a great opportunity. Let them talk-up the neighborhood and speak about nearby amenities and favorite places. At the very least, show your neighbors your house so if they speak to someone else who is in the market to buy, your neighbors can tell them all about your property.
- The local market heavily favors sellers, so it isn’t necessary. Just because a market favors sellers doesn’t mean you can forgo hosting open houses. You need to keep in mind that nothing is a substitute for personal, firsthand experience. Seeing a home online is far different from walking through it and being able to ask the seller questions.
If you’d like to know more about how to ready your home for sale and host an open house, phone me at 407-616-7286, I’ll be happy to speak with you.