Are you planning to sell Chevy Chase or American University Park properties in the near future? It’s a seller’s market, which means it should be relatively easy to get offers on your home if it's in good condition and has all the amenities that today’s buyers want. To best show off your marvelous home, you and your Chevy Chase real estate agent may want to schedule an open house. Here are some tips to make sure it’s well attended by the type of prospective buyers who are ready to make an offer.
Be strategic when picking a date and time
There are several schools of thought when it comes to which day and time are best to hold your event. Open houses are traditionally scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays when it’s assumed that most buyers will be off work. However, depending on the market, choosing a weekday (or evening) may bring in some different types of active buyers. You can also consider having the event on both a weekday and weekend to maximize viewing.
Weekend timing
If you plan a weekend day, schedule in the afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. or 3 to 5 p.m. to allow buyers to visit multiple open houses in one day, including yours. It’s a good idea to schedule the open house between lunch and dinner hours to hopefully maximize attendance.
If you’re up for the challenge, you can have two showings during the day, one from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the other from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., to accommodate almost anyone planning to attend.
Weekday timing
If you’re going to have the open house during the week, schedule it in the evening so you can catch buyers after an early dinner at Chevy Chase restaurants or before an American University shopping trip. It is often surprising how many people attend these weekday events.
Prepare to show off your house
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
You’ve chosen the date and time, but before starting to advertise, you need to get your home looking terrific. Remove any clutter, and remember that buyers want to envision themselves in your home, so the fewer personal items they see of yours, the better.
Keep the interior neutral, repaint the walls, update the appliances, and make any necessary home improvements. Also, don’t forget the exterior. Curb appeal is critical when showing off your house, so make sure you remove any outdoor clutter, manicure the lawn, and put a cheerful rug by the front door to invite buyers inside.
Next, invest in professional photography to show off your home’s best attributes with all the right lighting and angles. You will use these photos and videos as you begin to spread the word that you have an open house coming up soon.
Getting the word out
The only way the open house will be successful is to advertise it in various places. These include:
Real estate sites
Your Chevy Chase real estate agent will list your home on the MLS. He or she might also recommend other real estate sites they’ve successfully used with other clients. Nextdoor is another excellent resource to reach people throughout your neighborhood.
Social media
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
You can utilize all the social media platforms to put your open house on display.
-
Facebook reaches a vast audience. You can include all the information about your house, the schedule, and small details like whether you will be providing refreshments. You can also post numerous photos and videos for viewers to click through.
-
Instagram is perfect for anything visual. Post all those fantastic pictures from the professional photo shoot, an immersive video walkthrough, and an Instagram story about the open house. Include hashtags like #openhouse, #househunting, #ChevyChasehomeforsale, or #AmericanUniversityrealestate.
-
TikTok is a fun way to advertise with a short video of your home and the details of the open house. To raise curiosity, you can pan through the exterior and give glimpses of the interior.
-
Pinterest is not just for recipes and crafts; it is a handy search engine for anyone looking to buy something. You can set up a Pinterest board with professional photos, and as you post on different platforms, leave a link to that board.
The old-fashioned way
Get the message out the old-fashioned way and post signs throughout the neighborhood and in front of your house. Also, don’t be afraid to knock on doors around the area. You never know if one of your neighbors has a friend or family member who’s in the market for a house in the neighborhood.
The big day
It’s imperative to have people come to your open house, but you also want them to stay. If you encourage them to linger, they can get a feel for your home and start envisioning themselves living there.
One of the best open house hacks to make people want to stick around is to bake some chocolate chip cookies just before everyone arrives. The smell of freshly baked cookies is irresistible, and you can serve refreshments, too.
Another suggestion is to keep the blinds or curtains open to let natural light into the house. Replace all your family photos with neutral artwork that matches the decor, and send your pets to a friend's house for the day.
Your house should be at a comfortable temperature. If it is winter and you have a fireplace, have a fire burning during the open house to create a cozy atmosphere. If it’s summer and the weather is hot, your air conditioning should keep the home cool, and it’s a good idea to have some cold drinks available.
Ready to get started?
When you decide it’s time to sell your American University house or your Chevy Chase estate, choosing a real estate agent you can trust is an important step in making sure that your open house is successful. The experienced agents at
The Ortega Group know these markets better than any other in the area, and they are also expanding to the Coral Gables real estate market. They will organize and advertise your Chevy Chase open house and make it a resounding success. When you’re ready to sell, reach out to the
team for expert guidance.
*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock
