For FSBO's: Open House Tips

Some tips and tricks to follow when holding your own open house.

Advertise your open house - Ideally you should advertise both the weekend before and the weekend of the open house. Check with the local paper to see when their ad closing deadlines are.

Create a property summary sheet - This sheet gives prospective Buyer's an overview of your home. Include dimensions for each room, copies of a property survey, summaries of utility costs and property taxes, and a list of when capital items, such as roofs and furnace, were added.

Develop a sign-in form for prospects’ addresses - You’ll ideally want both phone numbers and e-mail addresses to follow up with prospective Buyer's.

Put up signs - One or two days before the open house, place directional signs at major intersections within three to four blocks of your house. Be sure you check on anti-sign regulations in your area.

Get your house ready - Remove clutter, clean your house, wash your windows, add flowers, turn on lights, open draperies and blinds, remove valuables and breakables, confine pets, turn on soft music, and set up a table for your property fact sheet near the entrance.

Develop a follow-up sheet - Getting feedback on your home from prospects who attended your open house will give you a better understanding of how to make your home more appealing to Buyer's.