| The real estate "open house" is supposed to | | | | Should you let dozens of people who aren't |
| be a good way to sell your home. But most of | | | | qualified to buy your home track their muddy |
| the time it isn't very effective. The first | | | | feet through it then? Probably not. Agents |
| thing to ask yourself, then, in preparing for | | | | mostly suggest it because it is a tool for |
| an open house, is whether you really want to | | | | them, and to prove that they are doing |
| have one. | | | | everything they can to sell your home. Of |
| | | | course, any additional exposure of your home |
| You see, an open house is a prospecting tool | | | | can increase the odds of it selling. So if |
| for the agent more than a way to sell your | | | | you do decide that you want those muddy feet |
| home. Many experienced real estate agents | | | | in your home, prepare in a way that protects |
| won't even host their own open houses. They | | | | your home and helps sell it. |
| have less experienced agents host them, as I | | | | |
| did many times as a new agent. By the way, a | | | | Preparing For An Open House |
| listing agent gives up a good chunk of his | | | | |
| commission if the hosting agent sells the | | | | Hide the valuables, for starters. No matter |
| home, so would he give away that opportunity | | | | what they say, an agent can't watch all the |
| if homes were commonly sold from open houses? | | | | visitors all the time. Parents may bring |
| | | | kids, so put easily-broken things somewhere |
| My first open house was a lakefront home | | | | safe. Have a good rug at the front door, and |
| which was too expensive for most of the | | | | consider putting up a sign that reads, |
| visitors that came. They wanted to dream, | | | | "Please wipe your shoes." In any case, it |
| while their kids ran around the home and | | | | shows that this is a house that is cared for. |
| yard, getting in the seller's things, and I | | | | |
| ran around trying to keep track of where | | | | Have a list of answers to the most likely |
| everyone was. | | | | questions about the house. Give this to the |
| | | | hosting agent. Also brief him on any unusual |
| I didn't sell the house, which was okay, my | | | | things about the house, or anything he might |
| office manager explained. Selling the home | | | | not have known. |
| wasn't the point. The point was to get a list | | | | |
| of several prospective buyers and their phone | | | | Of course you should clean the house. You may |
| numbers - those who had signed in at the open | | | | even want to enhance the atmosphere with some |
| house. Having discovered what some of them | | | | flowers and the smell of fresh-baked bread. |
| were looking for, I could possibly sell them | | | | Finally, if you can, why not leave a hidden |
| something. | | | | camera running to see what really happens at |
| | | | a real estate open house. |