| Many agents hold an open house every weekend | | | | getting ready to sell. |
| but have little to show for the time they spend. | | | | 8. Do not sit and read a magazine while waiting |
| In order to make the effort worthwhile, you | | | | for your guests to arrive. Be ready to greet |
| must develop good open house habits to get the | | | | them at the door. Be excited about the home and |
| most out of your time. Here are a dozen ways | | | | your enthusiasm will infect the people who stop |
| you can maximize your results when holding an | | | | by. |
| open house. | | | | 9. Work with a partner, if possible. This way one |
| 1. Send a postcard invitation to everyone in the | | | | can be showing the house and talking to visitors |
| immediate neighborhood. | | | | while the other is available if someone else comes |
| 2. Walk and personally invite the 25 closest | | | | in. This is also safer than having one person |
| neighbors. Do not forget to ask them to invite | | | | working the house alone. |
| their friends who have need of an agent as well. | | | | 10. Be prepared with other homes on the market. |
| 3. Advertise the open house on your website and | | | | Prepare a handout you can give your visitors |
| in the local media. | | | | showing additional homes for sale. You will want to |
| 4. Make certain the house is spotless and all the | | | | vary the selection slightly up and down by the |
| clutter has been removed. This is the most | | | | number of bedrooms and baths, the square |
| important thing you can do if you really want to | | | | footage, and the price. |
| sell the house you are holding open. | | | | 11. Provide small snacks, coffee, and soft drinks |
| 5. Plan ahead so the outside looks as good as the | | | | to your visitors. Baking a few trays of that |
| inside. Some fresh flowering plants are an | | | | ready-made cookie dough will make the house |
| inexpensive way to improve a boring landscape. | | | | smell great. Prepare the cookies on baking sheets |
| 6. Prepare and hand out information packets | | | | before you leave your home so there is no mess |
| explaining the entire house buying process. Many | | | | at your open house. |
| people who attend open houses are just beginning | | | | 12. Send a handwritten thank you card to all of |
| their search for a home and are trying to | | | | your visitors. Fill them out and drop them in the |
| understand what is involved. Make sure you | | | | mail immediately after you close the house. |
| include a few business cards and your personal | | | | It is common knowledge that holding an open |
| brochure if you have one. | | | | house rarely sells the home that is open but it |
| 7. Do not forget to prepare a package for | | | | can, and does, happen so be prepared with blank |
| potential sellers as well. People who intend to put | | | | contracts. It is far more likely, however, that you |
| their house on the market often attend open | | | | will meet buyers and sellers to work with in the |
| houses to get an idea of what sort of house is | | | | future so make sure you are doing everything |
| selling at what type of price. In fact, this is so | | | | you can to make them want to work with you. |
| prevalent you might even start by asking your | | | | After all, this is the only chance you will almost |
| guests if they are planning to buy or are they | | | | certainly get to convince them to do so. |