Do's & Don'ts for Hosting an Open House

If you are trying to sell your house at the Lake of the Ozarks, chances are you're open to trying several different strategies for getting your home off the market. Hosting an open house can be a great way get your home in front of several prospective buyers at one time, but (as with most things) there is a right and a wrong way to go about it. In my years as a real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks, I have identified several elements that can make or break an open house. Here are a few do's and don'ts to help make your open house a success.

DO: Aggressively Market Your Open House
Hosting an open house is great, but it won't do you any good if no one attends! Advertise your open house everywhere in the weeks leading up to your event - on social media, in the newspaper, with signs, and via word of mouth. Your real estate agent should do the same thing. Between the two of you, you should be able to drum up several attendees for your event. The more people there, the more likely you will be to get an offer.

DON'T: Be Present At The Event
As the seller, you should plan to make yourself scarce on the day of the actual open house. If they feel like like the sellers are hovering and/or watching them, buyers can easily become nervous and self-conscious. Your real estate agent should be perfectly capable of showing the house and accenting its best features, and buyers will probably feel more comfortable (which will make the event more successful) if you aren't there.

DO: Stage The Entire House
Before vacating your property on the day of the open house, it's important to make sure everything is spotless. Your entire home should look like a real estate showroom, because that's exactly what it is. Clean the house, organize all the closets, clear all counters and surface space, and remove all indication of pets and personalized belongings. Your goal should be to create a neutral space every buyer can picture as his/her own.

DON'T: Leave Valuables In Plain Sight
While the crime rate at the Lake of the Ozarks is much lower than in other parts of the state, no community is absolutely perfect. Be smart about which belongings you leave in public view; make sure all your valuables and private personal documents are tucked away in secure hiding places (or removed from the property altogether).

DO: Make Your House Smell Nice
The sense of smell is closely related to emotion and memory. An unpleasant smell can instantly turn off a prospective buyer, and a positive smell can make them instantly more drawn to your property. Before hosting an open house, bake cookies, cinnamon rolls, or some other desert to make your house smell warm and inviting. It may sound cheesy, but it will make a big difference.

DON'T: Play Music
Simplify your life and remove organizing a playlist from your to-do list. Studies show that playing music during an open house can actually be more detrimental than helpful. It's nearly impossible to find a type of music that will appeal to every single buyer, so you risk creating an unpleasant experience for one (or more) of your buyers by having music they dislike playing in the background. Playing music can also cause your buyers to wonder what ambient sounds you may be attempting to cover up (road noise, nearby construction, etc).

Ready To Sell Your Home? I'd Love To Help!
If you are thinking about selling property at the Lake of the Ozarks and are looking for an agent to represent you, I would love the chance to talk with you. I have been selling real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks for over twenty-five years, and I am well-equipped to help you sell your home successfully and efficiently. Visit my website to learn more!

Susan Spica
Professional REALTOR®

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868


Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484