Preparing for an Open House Checklist
Never stage an open-house without completing this checklists, first. Prepare you home as if you favorite celebrity was coming over. This free checklist is for real estate agents and home sellers when putting a house on the market.
open-house
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General Preparation:
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Create a bright, cheerful and serene environment.
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Open curtains, drapes and blinds, and turn on lights in all rooms and closets.
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Add a welcome touch by baking some cookies and putting out some fresh flowers.
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Water interior plants and throw away old plants and flowers.
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Put away valuables, money, jewelry and medicines in a safe or concealed place!
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Entryway:
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Remove clutter from foyer/entry and make sure it welcomes you.
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Have a clean welcome mat and clean all windows and mirrors.
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Bedrooms:
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Make beds, organize clothes, toys and closets, straighten up pillows and bedspreads.
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Clean wastebaskets, dust blinds, doors, shelves and floors, vacuum carpets.
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Open all blinds and hang them to a uniform height.
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Bathrooms:
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Hang clean hand towels, put out fresh soap in clean soap dishes.
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Remove all personal hygiene products from vanity and close the commode lids.
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Put out a fresh box of tissues and toilet paper.
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Clean bathtubs, shower stalls, vanities, sink areas, mirrors and medicine cabinets.
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Install new shower curtains, if necessary.
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Remove mildew from walls and caulking.
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Kitchen:
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Clean the kitchen sink and put away all dishes. Make sure everything shines including your windows!
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Clean the kitchen sink and put away all dishes. Make sure everything shines including your windows!
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Dining Room:
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Consider setting your dining room the table with linen and china
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Place an attractive centerpiece on your dining room table.
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Dust the chandelier and replace all burned out bulbs, dust china cabinets.
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Living Room, Family Room and Den:
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Dust, polish, vacuum and clean floors and furniture.
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Adjust couch cushions and pillows.
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Clean up wood around the fireplace and light your fireplace during cold weather
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Dispose old newspapers and mail.
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Organize bookshelves, reduce all clutter.
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Basements, Attic, Laundry Room, Porches and Decks:
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Reduce clutter, sweep, dust and organize all areas.
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Other Preparation Requirements:
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Post your Open House on our website at least one week in advance.
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Place an Open House ad in the newspaper with our web site address, if desired.
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Follow our advice on how to show your property.
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Print out 10-15 Property Displays from our website and offer them to prospective Buyers.
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Print out and prepare a Buyer Registry sign-in sheet.
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Ask a Lender to prepare various Good Faith Closing Cost Estimates to help Buyers calculate closing costs and monthly mortgage payments.
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Prepare a table near your foyer, kitchen or dining area for guests to sign in. On the table, place our Buyer Registry, a pen, your Property Display Sheets and Good Faith Closing Cost Estimates.
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Have available a copy of your survey, appraisal, property blueprints, Home Inspection Report, Property Condition Disclosure Statement and Seller Property Improvement Form.
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Post our Open House directional signs in your neighborhood to direct Buyers to your house.
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Post our Open House sign in your front yard.
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Make sure all pet and garbage odors are removed from your property.
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Make sure any annoying pets are placed out of the house.
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Prepare some cookies, snacks and beverages, if desired.
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Consider having a partner help you host your Open House and review our Safety Tips.
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Turn on all indoor lights, open all blinds and curtains, and be ready to welcome Buyers.
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Cordially greet all Buyers. You never know who they might know, what they might say, or who they might refer to your property!
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After greeting each Buyer, ask them to sign our Buyer Registry and offer them a Property Display.
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Let Buyers stroll through your property and remain available to answer any questions.
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Remember a well prepared home and properly priced home sells itself!
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