Open Houses, Basic Rules of Thumb

So you want to have an open house with your Wayne County home, Or Livingston County home.  Wherever your Michigan home is, open houses are a traditional way of showing a house to prospective purchasers. Basically, you put up a sign and/or run an advertisement and invite people into your home to look around. They are usually held in the afternoon on Saturday or Sunday. Sundays are usually the best, and 12 – 5  or 1- 4 are the best times. Make sure your open house is not competing with a major televised sports event, holidays, or major religious observances.

The best way to advertise your open house is in the weekend real estate section of your local paper.  Or if there is a main road nearby you could simply put up directional signs to your house.  It is also good to piggyback with other open houses in the area.  You should also advertise the open house on the internet.

Pass out open house flyers to neighbors. They are the best promoters in the area. Put up an open house sign in your front yard and place open house directional signs in your neighborhood and on well-traveled roads just before the open house. Check with your homeowners association and city about possible sign ordinances.

For even greater exposure, place open house flyers on bulletin boards at your local grocery store, health club, and library. Stick announcement flyers under windshield wipers of cars in your community shopping center parking lot. Pick up plastic door hangers, insert your flyer and place them on your neighbor’s door a few days before the open house. Mail post cards to your friends. Attach balloons to your yard sign to draw attention.

Always put the house in prime showing condition. Put soft music on and play up the best features. Turn on lights in darker rooms and be sure the house smells nice. Offer cookies and punch and have fresh coffee so the aroma fills the house and creates a wonderful atmosphere.  Put away all small valuables.

Have a sign-in sheet or guest book and get the name, address, and phone number of everyone who attends. Use this information to confirm that the potential buyers are motivated and to make follow-up calls. Make notes, write down positive impressions and comments.

Have house information flyers and financing sheets ready. Have a friend or neighbor take care of your kids and pets. For safety reasons, always have at least two people showing the house. Pick up some blank sales contracts in case someone wants to buy your home.

When buyers come through, let them look around without you. Introduce yourself at the door, shake hands and tell them you’re available to answer questions. Then, let them look.

Follow up after the open house with everyone who came through. Simply ask if there is any further information you can provide about the house and if they had an interest in the house.