As we approach the spring – you have, or will likely start to, see signs around the area for Open Houses. You may even have plans to  attend a few. Open Houses are  open invitations for potential buyers to drop by on a certain day and time, to check out a property to get more information. When you’re listing your home for sale, you might wonder whether you’ll need to have an Open House. To answer that question, you’ll need to consider the pros and cons., and what works for you and your family. Planning and hosting an open house isn’t as easy as it may seem – it does take some time and planning to do it right – there is a lot of preparation involved! In addition to the time and effort expended by your real estate agent, you will likely spend hours making your property look its best and you’ll need to be away from your home for a good part of that day. That being said, an Open House has many advantages.

• It helps showcase features of your property that may not come across well in advertisements and listing descriptions.

• It attracts potential buyers who, for any number of reasons, might not otherwise call to view the home.

• It generates a buzz and publicity about your listing. However, an Open House might not be necessary if there is high demand for properties like yours and you’re likely to get multiple offers.

My rule of thumb is to try to host an Open House the first weekend your home is listed – depending on your market. It creates a sense of urgency for the potential Buyer and helps to get feedback in that crucial first week of the listing so we know if we are on the right track with our preparations and pricing.

Ask me how we can create a personalized marketing plan for your home!