Five Steps to Holding A Successful Open House For the For Sale By Owner

Thinking of selling your home by owner?  Here’s some information on how to hold an open house I believe you’ll find useful!

An open house is one way to expose your home to multiple buyers at once. Not only is an open house designed to market your home in a way that differs from a simple listing, but it also opens the door for competitive offers, as more than one buyer could potentially fall in love with your home on the same day.

1. Make Your Home Shine

A successful open house begins with cleanliness, so make sure that your home is ready to be shown. This means the clutter should be removed and the home should be “staged” to allow potential buyers to envision themselves living in a beautifully decorated home.

2. Cross Your T's & Dot Your I's

Your next step to an open house is making sure that the price is right. If the day is successful, you may be fielding offers within hours, so be ready to make a deal. Most open houses are advertised locally in order to attract buyers looking to move into the area, which means a newspaper ad may have a lot of potential. The advertisement should feature a photo, along with text that outlines all of the unique and positive aspects of the home. The date, time, and clear directions should also be given in the ad, along with your contact information. Before your ad goes to press, make sure that you have proofread it to ensure accuracy.

3.  Spruce Up Your Curb Appeal

As buyers begin to show up for your open house, they will want to see attractive landscaping with an inviting atmosphere. This will make them eager to see what's inside the home. The front yard should feature an Open House sign with colorful balloons, but don't forget to place signs along the street (with permission, of course) to help potential buyers find you.

Make sure the lawn is freshly cut and flower beds are well kept. Any clutter, including bicycles or yard care equipment, should be removed to produce a visually pleasing image of the home. Make sure your windows and doors are sparkling clean and free of fingerprints. Nothing should distract buyers from the prize, which is your house.

4. Feed Your Guests

It's customary for every open house to have complimentary coffee or other refreshments and/or cookies. The smell of freshly baked cookies will give buyers the feeling of being at home-exactly the type of reaction you want when trying to sell your home.

5. Reading Material Is Golden

You should provide a business card and/or informational sheet for each potential buyer that tours your home. Take a few minutes to design your own flyer using a computer and print out some full-color circulars to offer interested parties as they arrive. You should also provide copies of any appraisal, inspection or other information about the home that potential buyers would find interesting.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I am happy to consult with you without any obligation regarding the sale of your property. 

Sincerely,

Bob Weibrecht
Realtor / Sales Associate
314-852-9566www.BobWeibrecht.com
Coldwell Banker Gundaker
1925 Richardson Rd
Arnold, MO 63010
636-461-2000

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Caught in between selling and buying a home? Here are a few tips on what to do.

Trying to sell a home and buy one at the same time can be a challenging task. Many home buyers find themselves caught in a difficult position as they often cannot place an offer on a desired home and simultaneously sell their current one.

Below are some tips from Coldwell Banker Gundaker on how to close the gap between buying and selling a home:

1. Consider bridge loans. A bridge loan means borrowing from the current home's equity until the proceeds from its sale are obtained. Some bridge loans require that only the interest be repaid; others mandate a single payment of interest and principal when the loan needs to be paid back. If protracted, bridge loans can be expensive, so it is best to use them for overlaps of a short period of time between closings.

2. Buy on contingency. Have a prior-sale contingency included in the purchase contract of the new home. It provides the opportunity to withdraw from an offer if the current home does not sell by a specific and agreed upon date.

3. Evaluate whether to buy or sell first. You could still find yourself caught in between even with a prior-sale contingency clause. Home owners must consider which is better to do first. In a seller’s market, locating the new home and starting the buying process may be the best approach. It is important to note most people need to sell their current home to qualify for a loan to purchase the next one, which is often more expensive. In a buyer’s market, you should be aware of the time frame and the possibility of not being able to sell your current home quickly.

4. Review home equity options. For those who need to borrow for a longer period than just a few months, it is best to use a home equity loan or a fixed-rate line of credit, particularly if sizable equity has been built up.

I hope you find this information useful. Best wishes for the successful conclusion of your real estate transaction!

The Top 10 Exterior Items That Make Your Home Look Its Best!

When it comes to selling your home, the first thing to do is to make sure to put your home's best foot forward. That means make it look nice and attractive on the exterior. Buyers will draw conclusions home based upon the exterior appearance of your home.  Here are the top ten exterior items to make your home look the very best.

1.    Check the exterior of items like siding, window sashes, trim and shutters. Clean and/or paint as needed. Give special attention to the front door area. Make it welcoming and inviting..

2.    Add color to your yard and front porch with flowers or flowering plants in the ground or in planters.

3.    Check the roof for shingles or flashing that needs replacing or repair.

4.    Make sure your gutters are clean of debris. Clean or paint them as need and re-align the gutters crooked.

5.    Repair or replace broken windows, doors and screens. Make sure each is clean and in good condition.

6.    Repair and or replace broken sections of your fence, deck, patio, etc. Make sure these areas are clean and in good shape. Paint as needed.

7.    Clean the driveways and sidewalks. Patch holes and remove stains. Consider concrete paint for stubborn stains or to make concrete surfaces appear uniform.

8.    Neatly put outdoor furniture in a pleasing arrangement.  Store all lawn equipment, bikes and other yard toys when not in use.

9.    Make sure your lawn is kept cut and trimmed.  Trim trees and shrubs, removing all dead limbs and yard debris.

10. Last but not least touch up the little things.  That is house numbers, mail box, door bell, etc. A new welcome mat is a big plus.

By taking advantage of these top ten items, you’ll ensure your home has that WOW factor when potential buyers visit!