If planned and executed correctly, a for sale by owner (FSBO) transaction can be fulfilling and beneficial for military home sellers and buyers. There’s plenty of upside to saving money and planning a sale on your own terms, including preparing for an open house, whether you schedule just one or multiple showings.
An open house is a critical component of a FSBO. It’s the chance to show off your home in its best light and showcase its full potential. Although prepping for an open house takes plenty of elbow grease and some upfront investment, hopefully, you’ll be rewarded at closing when your home sells quickly and for more than the asking price.
With the spring real estate market in full swing, there’s no time like the present to make sure your to-do list is complete before your first open house.
For a complete examination of what it takes to pull off a successful FSBO, download our free guide, For Sale By Owner FAQs.
1. Clean and Deodorize the Entire House
Regardless of which resource you use to help you prepare for your open house, they will all stress the extreme importance of an immaculate and odor-free home. An open house is not a time to hide smelly carpets and dirty windows.
First, plan as many sessions as needed to remove items that clutter your house, from stacks of papers in the office to temporarily storing oversized furniture that makes your living spaces feel small. At this point, you might consider investing in a professional organization and cleaning services if you already feel overwhelmed.
Don’t underestimate the time it takes to clean each room from ceiling to floor thoroughly. In some cases, the overall cleaning strategy could take months!
2. Update and Neutralize
Plans for updates sometimes overlap the cleaning overhaul, but the next step is to decide which updates you can take on that make financial sense. After your market research, you should know the projects that yield the best ROI in your neighborhood.
Some go-to updates:
- Remove stained and worn carpet and replace it with luxury vinyl planks or true hardwood floors.
- Install updated kitchen and bathroom hardware and lighting.
- Update the front door system and refresh the porch with new accessories.
- Add smart home features, like a thermostat.
Two Ways to Neutralize Your Home
Neutralizing isn’t just for paint, although you should definitely meet your buyers where they are and give them the neutral look they’re searching for. Your heart might still be attached to the perfect shade of pink in the nursery, but buyers don’t want to unpack boxes and immediately repaint the walls. Move-in-ready status remains popular for many reasons!
Neutralizing also involves removing personal photos, the majority of precious collections, and decorating items before the open house. Potential buyers want to envision their belongings (not pictures of your Nana) lovingly placed throughout the built-ins.
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3. Consider a Professional Home Stager
A professional home stager usually offers a wide variety of services to help you show buyers the property’s full potential. You may pay by the hour for a consultation when you learn home staging techniques like furniture placement that emphasizes spaciousness. Stagers can also suggest paint colors and other decorative choices that buyers prefer.
You can also choose full-service staging. Many stagers offer the option to rent furniture and completely set up the home for an open house, including decorative items like artwork and rugs as well as furniture. Sometimes, stagers also provide teams that paint and do minor repair work.
4. Don’t Ignore the Power of Curb Appeal
Hopefully, you’ve planned a home selling budget that accounts for curb appeal. At the very minimum, an open house requires a tidy, well-kept front and back lawn with trimmed shrubbery and trees. Remember that your front porch is key to drawing your buyers in, while other outdoor areas can be staged as extra living space.
Other curb appeal projects that pay off:
- Power washing exterior surfaces like siding and driveways
- Adding potted plants and flowers to patios and porches
- Updating fresh mulch in flower beds and existing landscaping
- Meticulous cleaning seating areas of cobwebs and outdoor debris
5. Prepare for the Open House Days in Advance
On the day of the open house, sellers are usually busy and nervous, especially if it’s the first one they’ve conducted. To calm and ease your mind, prepare yourself well in advance.
Before your For Sale By Owner open house, prepare snacks and water for shoppers to enjoy. They’ll stay longer if they’re not hungry or thirsty. Then, pull together answers to typical questions buyers will ask. A handy printout of the tax estimates, neighborhood features, and home repairs is useful. Don’t forget to choose a comfortable and professional outfit, including shoes. You’ll be standing and walking all day.
A FSBO can be intimidating because many factors, like the buyer’s finances, are out of your control, so it's essential to focus on things you can control, like an amazing open house. As the owner, all you can do is prepare well in advance. This checklist will put you on the right path.
For more guidance, scour our home selling blog posts and our free guides like the one below to ensure the best outcome for your future open house.
