How to Maximize Amenities to Buyers at Your Open House

When buyers are looking for a property to buy, there are certain amenities they prioritize. Maximizing these amenities at an open house can make your listing stand out from others in the neighborhood. Open houses give you the perfect opportunity to expand your buyer pool inexpensively. According to the National Association of Realtors, 45% of buyers use open houses to look for properties. If you want to make the most of your open house, follow these tips.

Open house tips to ensure the home is ready

Advise Sellers to Stage Their Homes In Advance

A staged home makes a statement. It shows buyers that you are efficient at what you do and have their best interests at heart. Tell sellers to stage their homes in advance so as to appeal to a wide variety of buyers. They should work with professional landscapers and stagers to make their homes’ interiors and exteriors look spectacular. Potential buyers won’t come in if they do not like what they see outside.

Home sellers should also stage their homes according to the demographic they are targeting. If they want to attract young buyers, they should use new, trendy furniture. If they are targeting older buyers, they should use contemporary and timeless furniture pieces. Lovely furnishings act as a quiet salesman to prospective buyers.

Depersonalize rooms when home staging

Renovations

Buyers love items that look or feel new. While they know that someone has lived in the space before them, they don’t want to see that. Think of when you buy something new, whether it’s a new pair of shoes or a stick of gum. Part of the excitement comes from knowing that it’s clean and that no one has used it before you. Buyers want to feel this way about the property they are purchasing. Advise sellers to carry out renovations if they want to sell their properties fast and get a good deal. They should focus on the bathrooms and kitchens as these have a certain appeal.

Define Spaces

Each room in a home should be clearly defined. If the house has an open-plan living room, the owners should place the furniture in a way that defines each room. They can use rugs to mark the space and to distinguish the living room from the dining room and kitchen. If they have an extra room that is unused, they should convert it into a bedroom and not a home office or a den. Bedrooms appeal to buyers more than other rooms.

Sellers should also use rooms for their intended use. They should not place exercise equipment in bedrooms as these can give buyers the wrong signals. They are not only a visual distraction; they also give the feeling that there is a shortage of space.

Depersonalize the Home

Homeowners should remove personal touches from their properties so that buyers can envision themselves living there. A home filled with personal items makes it hard for buyers to see themselves in the space. The items can also prevent them from seeing the important aspects of the house. Remind your sellers that they are selling their homes and not their personal items so they should declutter before an open house. Tell them to remove their family photos, private artwork, and personal mementos.

A home is the most expensive investment for most people and they want to be sure that they are making the right decision. Open houses allow them to tour the property, scrutinize the layout, and evaluate the amenities. Share the above tips with your sellers to help them make the most of their amenities at open houses. They will appeal to many prospective buyers and may end up making a quick sale.

Look through the iHouse blog for more home staging tips for an open house.