1. Advertise! A study by the National Association of Realtors revealed that 92% of buyers use the Internet to search for a home. Make sure the open house dates are available through Zillow. With over 130 million visits per month, Zillow is a great place to start.
2. Invite your neighbors to an aperitif or a wine and cheese party at their open house. It’s a great way to network and prospect. Socialize and have fun.
3. Everyone who visited your open house is a potential buyer. So create an automated enriching email marketing campaign to stay in touch. Also be sure to follow up within a few days so you can get back online and help with your home buying search.
4. Be strategic with open door signage. Sandwich panels are great, but they also go well with signs that are legible from at least 30 to 50 feet away. Post directional signs to advertise within a five-block radius to reach a wider audience. Add helium filled balloons to get attention.
5. Depersonalize the property. Remove family photos, diplomas, awards, and anything else around the home before the open house. By removing personal items, the house does not belong to any particular group of people and visitors can see themselves in the house.
6. Clean and organize closets and other storage spaces. Buyers will open cabinets, drawers, and anything else with a handle. Instead of a flood of boxes when they open the storage closet, make sure the cabinets are clean and organized.
7. Target local home buyers with online advertising. You can even target potential buyers based on zip code through Google AdWords, Bing, Facebook, and other online resources. With Facebook, you can add photos of the property and a link to a landing page where more images of the house are available, plus a contact form for more information.
8. Advertise by drone. Yes, drone advertising. Hoovy advertises open houses by placing banners on drones and placing them in public places for realtors. Hoovy flies the drones about 60 feet off the ground to get closer to the public.
9. Staging can help sell a home. Group your colors. Try to limit the colors to just three per room. Keep larger items lower. If you have a uniform amount, take one. Always keep the amounts at an odd number as it is more visually appealing. Toss in cushions and to create a spa appeal, add white towels to bathrooms.
10. First impressions are important. Simple entrance updates can make a big difference. Add a plant. If the door is worn, a good coat of paint can make a difference. A new welcome mate will make it more attractive. Sweep up, clean off cobwebs, and remove anything worn.
11. In one study, 30% of people reported that scented products were “irritating.” Avoid air fresheners and candles. Instead, encourage your salesperson to shampoo rugs, open windows and let in fresh air, deodorize appliances, and throw rugs in the washing machine.
12. Experiment with lighting before your open house. Try opening blinds and curtains, turning on different light sources.
13. Advertise in small local newspapers since not all buyers know the Internet. Many retirees read the local newspapers and you will get a lot of mileage for your investment.
14. Consider a themed open house. If the house is Mediterranean in design, consider presenting tapas. If it’s a Spanish style, the nachos can be perfect. Give your potential buyers a unique experience to remember the house.
15. Have brochures with your contact information on hand for buyers to pick up. The Home Loan Breakdown and Glossary are two great brochures. Neighborhood information such as local schools, grocery stores, restaurants, and the “walk score” are excellent information. And attach your business card to each brochure. Have a sign-in sheet for visitors and capture their name, phone number, email, and any other relevant information. Follow up a few days later.
16. Email prospective buyers and invite them to your open house. Show house in email and include professional branded email signature. And offer to show you around the house. Why wait? Give prospects the ability to schedule time with you to tour the house early. Add an online scheduling link so shoppers can set a time without worrying about the phone, returning calls, and waiting. After all, in this competitive market, the house could be on the lookout for when the open house arrives!