If you aren't leveraging the opportunities that an open house presents, it's high time you started doing so. Whether you're the property owner or a realtor doing your best to sell a home, open houses are a direct gateway to buyers.
Open homes have become a staple within the real estate industry for many years now. As such, they are probably the most reliable means of showcasing and actually selling homes. But, it's important to stay abreast of open home trends and what makes a memorable showing.
Check out the rest of this blog for pro tips.
Opt for the Right Day and Time
Timing is key when organizing an open home that makes a real impact. It's important to consider the demographic you're targeting in that particular neighborhood and what day and time might work best for them.
A simple example is whether to host an open home on a weekend versus a weeknight. While a weekend might seem like the better option, this is not always the case. Many families tend to have prior commitments over the weekend or, parents just have their hands full juggling multiple kids.
Think about a strategic day and time, such as a weekday evening to capture the attention of the right client.
Prioritize Digital Sign-Ins
An open home is one of the best times to seize the opportunity and collect as much visitor information as possible. Why is this important? Because they could become potential clients and your next home buyer (even if it's not the house you're showing).
While it's still a good idea to provide a physical open house sign-in sheet, a digital option is what you really want. Strategically place the sign-in device at the entrance of the home and make sure to capture visitor details as soon as they arrive.
A digital device is far more reliable. You don't have to worry about deciphering handwriting or misplacing a physical sign-in sheet. It can automatically save and store information for you that you can later access when you need it.
Showcase the Home's Best Features
This might sound like an obvious point, but make sure you take the time to look at the property through the eyes of a buyer. Don't worry too much about the drawbacks of the home, if any. If you make a big enough deal of the home's best features, this is what a potential buyer will remember the most.
Use home staging to showcase and highlight the best features of the property and include them in all your marketing material, using top-quality photographs. For example, if the home has a lovely backyard, set the scene by dressing up an outdoor table, offer a drinks station, light candles, and turn on mood lighting.
Incentives Work Wonders
For most people, the freebies offered at a show home are one of the biggest draws in terms of attendance. There's nothing wrong with offering a little incentive to get feet through the door of the home -- in fact, it's encouraged.
Make a real effort when it comes to the food and drink on offer. Whether it's a selection of canapes, a cheese and charcuterie board paired with champagne, or fresh cookies and coffee from the local bakery.
Need Expert Assistance with Your Open Houses?
If you're a property owner and looking to sell a home, PMI Property Management has the team and expertise to help you secure the best deal. Whether you need assistance with setting up open houses, property management, tenant screening, or rent collection, we cover it all.
Explore our range of services here and find out how we can make your property ownership journey a smooth one.
