FSBO Jane

Although I have said before that virtual tours are really helpful when you’re looking to buy a home, there is really no concrete way of seeing a property up close and personal other than to visit it in person.

If you have never attended an open house before, there are some things you can expect. These are things to watch out for so you are prepared to act accordingly. The last thing you want to do is put an agent or a homeowner off by appearing rude or demanding.

Here are some quick tips:

• If an appointment is required, adhere to your time. Showing up too early or late is disrespectful.

• Unless there is a sign, you don’t need to knock or ring the doorbell. Walk in.

• If you are greeted by an agent or homeowner, politely say hello and wait for instruction. If the person offers to take you on a tour of the home, accept it.

• If no appointment is necessary and you stopped on a whim, say so. State that you are not interested in buying and that you just want to see the house. For all they know, you could fall in love with the place.

• If you are a friend, neighbor or coworker, say so. This may make you more appealing as a prospective buyer since you have invested interest in the owner of the property, as well.

• If the agent/homeowner tells you to go at your own pace, don’t rush. Take your time moving through each room.

• Whether you are being guided by an agent/homeowner or not, do not show disgust at the décor. If you’re constantly saying, “this needs to be changed,” you may be coming off as a bit rude and highfalutin.

• Feel free to look inside closets and cabinets, but do not pick up the owner’s personal possessions.

• Do not try out the furniture or use the bathroom.

Remember, the seller doesn’t have to sell the house to you, especially if multiple offers are on the table. Take these tips into consideration and make sure your home-buying etiquette is appropriate.

One of the many differences in selling your home FSBO (for sale by owner) is that you are solely responsible for impressing potential home buyers that come to view your house. Since you don’t have an agent to constantly remind you of what you should do before buyers come over, here is an open house checklist, courtesy of RealEstateABC.com, to keep in mind.

1. During the day, open all the blinds and allow natural light to stream in. In windowless rooms or rooms where natural light doesn’t do enough justice, turn on the light. If it’s a cloudy day, turn on all the lights. At night, turn on the lights inside and out. Lights make a room appear homey and lived in, and turning on lights proves that you have nothing to hide.
2. Lighting a bunch of candles or spraying fragrances before potential homebuyers show up will make it seem like you’re trying to hide a nasty smell. Not to mention that you could overdue it and trigger a person’s allergies. Instead, light just one candle, or use freshly baked cookies or freshly brewed coffee as an aroma.
3. Plan ahead with your pets. If you’re leaving while your home is being shown, take your non-caged pets with you in the car. If you are remaining home, designate an area of your backyard for your dog, and designate one room of your house for your cat. These areas should be easily and quickly accessible for surprise visits. Clean litter pans and cages regularly, and provide a designated place to store toys. Owners with pets should even sweep, dust and mop more often, so that potential homebuyers with allergies aren’t miserable while viewing your home.
4. Empty out the trash more often. Depending on how much trash you acquire, every other day should be sufficient. If your kitchen or bathroom garbage doesn’t have a top, change those everyday. A clean garbage bin will decrease odors, and it will not distract buyers from what is important.
5. Make it a habit to clean up after yourself. Wash dishes right away, and don’t leave any dishes around the house. Make your beds. Put away toys in bins. Designate an area for the TV remotes. Put away video games. Keep shoes in a box and coats in a closet or on a coat rack. Don’t allow any object to look scattered or misplaced. The buyer will notice it, even if it’s second nature to you.

For more ideas, here are some articles that give great open house tips!

• Top 10 Home Staging Tips
• 101 Tips for Selling Your Home
• Top 5 Mistakes Sellers Make When Showing Homes.

Wondering who will come to your open house? Most likely, your visitors will fall into the following categories:

1. Favor Shopping: Friends are moving to the area, so these people are helping them look for a new home. They primarily want to scope out the property for someone else.

2. Nosy Neighbors: Locals who have always wondered about the inside of the home see this as a perfect opportunity to get their wish. They primarily want to satisfy curiousity.

3. Decorating Divas: Some people will visit just to get a look at the interior decorating, including furniture type and placement, window treatments, color choices and so on. They primarily want new ideas for their own homes.

4. Bored Browsers: Any number of reasons could prompt someone to come visit who has no intention of buying: looking for a cheap thing to do on the weekend, thought it would be fun, etc. They’re just wanting something to do.

5. Potential Buyers: Obviously this group is the one you are working for, the one you’re trying to bring in. They are actually interested in your home and are considering buying it. They primarily want to see if this home is the right fit.

(For more information on holding a successful open house, go here.)

When your open house date arrives, after you’ve put in the prep work, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Here are a few last-minute reminders, to make sure everything runs smoothly. 

1. Are there strategically placed signs pointing to the home?
2. Have I marked the open house date online, well in advance*?
3. Is the home priced correctly?
4. Is the home attractive from the curb?
5. Is the interior spotless and ready to be shown?
6. Do I have flyers printed and ready to hand out?
7. Have I put out some coloring books, crayons, etc. to keep kids occupied?
8. Have I put out water, juice and/or snacks of any kind? Make it easy for prospective buyers to linger.

This is the final tip, and I think it’s the easiest. You’ve cleaned, you’ve decluttered, and you’ve worked hard preparing for your open house. Now, you just need to brighten things up. Turn on any decorative track lighting you may have. In fact, turn on lights everywhere. It will make your home seem larger, brighter and more spacious. Pull up window blinds and open curtains. In this crisp fall season, you might want to have a crackling fire prepared for the open house, as well.

Supply the bathrooms with fresh, clean towels and nice hand soap. Put an impressive potted plant by the front door and give that door a fresh coat of paint as well. Decorate your dining room table with an attractive centerpiece, and set it as if for a dinner party. Add similar touches elsewhere throughout your home, paying attention to increasing space and removing clutter.

Being a proactive seller means thinking ahead to what problems might come up during the showing. To remove all distractions, consider asking a friend to watch your pet(s) during the open house. Not only will this help visitors relax, it will keep you calm, too.

Go through your entire home and look at it from the eye of a buyer. Rearrange the furniture to give your rooms a spacious look. Straighten out all storage areas. Potential buyers are curious and always look inside cupboards and cabinets. Remove anything that gives your home a disorganized look. Your bathroom and kitchen countertops should be as clear as possible, all toys should be stored away, and any excess photos and knickknacks should be removed. Remove all dishes from the sink and empty your trash cans.

A fresh smell can make a house a home, and that’s how you want visitors thinking–like your home could be their home. Consider placing plug-ins throughout the home or putting potpourri in the bathrooms. You might have fresh cookies ready on the day of the showing or hot apple cider warming. Grind a piece of lemon in the garbage disposal. Even more important than providing these cozy smells, though, you want to eliminate all foul odors - especially if you have pets or there is a smoker in the family. Again, this goes back to cleaning. It may be worth the investment to hire a professional cleaner to work on your furniture, especially if smells are deeply embedded.

There’s nothing worse than coming to an open house and finding the home a pigsty. Very few buyers today have the time or patience to look for a diamond in the rough. You could lose them if you aren’t careful:

Dust, disinfect, and scrub everything from top to bottom!! (If you need advice on this, ask me.) Get inside closets and examine the bottoms of drawers. Clean all your appliances thoroughly, giving special attention to the inside of your microwave and your oven. Get under the couches and pay special attention to the bathrooms. Clean your fireplace and its mantel.