Open houses require a minimum of preparation. If you plan to organize one or more open houses, rely on these tips to ensure their resounding success and find your future buyers.

Here are 9 tips to do before organizing an open house:

1- Take care of your exterior

Your home's exterior deserves as much attention as the interior! It's the first thing your future buyers will see. Make sure that:

  • The lawn is mowed and the edges are trimmed.
  • The shrubs are trimmed and the flower beds are weeded.
  • The pool is clean and the garden furniture is in good condition.
  • The entrances and balcony are clear of all clutter (leaves, branches, toys, etc.).
  • In winter, the driveways and parking areas are snow-cleared and de-iced.

Feel free to add plants and flowers to brighten the overall look and refresh the paint on the shutters, doors, and windows if necessary.

2- Make your house shine

Clean everything, everything, everything: floors, windows, walls, doors, and baseboards! Before each visit:

  • Make your beds (with neutral sheets if you have them);
  • Wash the carpets to neutralize odors;
  • Pick up everything that's lying around;
  • Put away all toiletries, cleaning products, vitamin bottles on the counter, etc.

Once your house shines, keep it that way! You never know when the ideal buyer will show up.

Make your home sparkle.

3- Organize your closets

Don't forget to organize your closets! Storage potential is very important to future buyers. Show it at its best.

Now is the perfect time to start sorting through all your belongings. Throw away, donate, or sell anything you no longer use.

4- Depersonalize your living spaces

To allow potential buyers to imagine themselves living there, remove all family photos, children's drawings, diplomas on the wall, or travel souvenirs. In short, you must make your space as neutral as possible.

Clear surfaces: put away remote controls, keys, personal items, mail, and anything cluttering tables, furniture, and countertops. Optimize flow by creating airy and uncluttered spaces.

5- Make your home smell good

The sense of smell is strongly associated with emotions, intuition, and memories. So make sure your house smells good before open houses.

  • Ventilate by opening the windows wide.
  • Wash the textiles: carpets, curtains, cushions, throws, etc.
  • Clean or change the cat litter.
  • Empty the trash and recycling.
  • Put the shoes away in a closet.

The day before viewings, use room fragrances, air fresheners, or strongly scented cleaning products. On the day of, opt for natural and subtle fragrances like fresh flowers, the smell of coffee, freshly baked cookies, or a diffuser with a very light scent.

Make your home smell good

6- Brighten up

Clean the windows, open the curtains, and turn on all your lamps and ceiling lights.

7- Set the mood

If you want to create a warm atmosphere, put on soft music, light a candle, and, if you wish, provide small snacks and a jug of water for your visitors.

8- Let visitors move freely

You want visitors to be relaxed and to already feel at home. Leave the premises and let your broker or the buyers' broker accompany the visitors. They know which features interest buyers and can highlight them better.

Broker visits property

9- Do not negotiate with the buyer

It might be tempting to discuss the sale price or occupancy with the buyer, but it's wiser to let the broker handle it. They are qualified to negotiate with your interests in mind.

Ready to get started? Contact a real estate broker now. They will be able to assist you in realizing all your projects!