Spring Open House Tips

Have you listed your home this season because you heard Spring is the best time to sell? That's great! This way you get to move into a new home during the summer and before the typical drop of prices by fall. Of course, with other like-minded people this means there will be competition. But don't fret because you can make your home stand out from the rest and grab homebuyers' attention by holding an Open House. And you have the perfect opportunity to host the best kind of Open House- a Spring Open House! Check out our tips for making the most of your Spring Open House.

1. Make Good Use of "Spring Cleaning"
Time to get rid of the clutter and dirt your home gathered over the winter. If you want to be thorough or don't know how to start, you can always find a lot of great spring cleaning checklists and tips online. Hire a cleaning crew if you think you'll need help. Be sure to neutralize odors (including avoiding cooking food with strong smells a few days before your Open House). Clean out and organize closets and storage space. You want your home fresh, clean and tidy all throughout for its Spring Open House.

De-personalize your home as well by putting away family photos and personal stuff. You want would-be buyers to imagine themselves living in your home and personal items can be distracting from these thoughts.

2. Spruce Up The Outdoors
Trim the trees and the bushes. Mow your lawn and remove dead leaves. Add some potted flowers or succulents on the porch or any outdoor space to liven up the area or cover any bare spots. Be sure to clean the gutters, too. Place new mats on the front and back doors. Change any outdoor seats.

Show off outdoor spaces all the more by de-cluttering children’s toys, gardening equipment, trash cans and the like. Create a uniform look to your flower beds by spreading a fresh layer of mulch. Make sure you clean any water feature if your home has one. And if your Open House will extend through the night, use outdoor lighting to create ambiance or illuminate exterior features.


3. Let In Natural Light By Opening Up the Windows
With all that amazing work you'll be doing with your landscaping and outdoor spaces, why not then open up the windows to let in and  spread throughout the house the smell of freshly cut grass and all that pretty, blooming flowers? You might even get the occasional breeze.

Not only that, all that natural light coming in will open up rooms and create the look of more space. You can achieve the same effect for rooms that don't have good lighting by adding a mirror to capture and add sunlight to its space.


4. Make the Home Cozy
All that ambiance you've created with open windows and natural light would go well with thoughtfully-placed seating and furniture to create warm and cozy spaces within the home. Not only will visitors feel welcome to come in and browse throughout, they'll also be able to easily imagine themselves living and relaxing in the home.

Create focal points by arranging furniture, like around a fireplace or a large window, but don't push them all the way against the walls. Use slipcovers or luxurious throws to cover old sofas or chairs. Add throw pillows and decor pieces that are pleasant to the eyes. Cover everyday bedding with luxurious bedding or a nice throw. Set a vase of fresh-cut flowers for a splash of color to where it's needed aside from making the home smell nice. You might even consider playing some soft tunes to help people relax and perhaps encourage them to stay a bit more longer.


5. Considering Scheduling Your Open House Around Community Events
This varies by location but typically, Open Houses are best held on a Saturday or Sunday. Weekends, of course, are when most people are off work and can find time to visit and browse your home.

The ideal time to schedule is usually between 11 am to 4 pm. You can also consider early evening between 5 pm and 7 pm if you think this will benefit your local buyer pool who needs to wrap up errands or look after their kids.

While choosing a date for your Open House, why not check for any upcoming events in your neighborhood? Maybe there will be garage sale nearby or perhaps a community event like a block party? Gauge whether this event will detract would-be visitors or push foot traffic towards your Open House. Who knows, maybe word-of-mouth would draw additional interest to your Open House or even get your home to stand out from the rest of the properties up for sale in the neighborhood.


6. Update Your Listing Photos
It's a Spring Open House so why continue using those old photos from fall or winter? That's going to send signals that your home has been on the market for too long, raising questions if there's anything wrong with it. Take advantage of all that delightful Springtime goodness of wonderful weather, flowers in bloom and bright colors. Combine those with everything you've done to prep your home for its Open House and you're looking at an exciting collection of eye-catching photos to spread across your social media, upload to the MLS and put on your flyers.

And what better way to capture beautiful photos of your home in all its Springtime glory than by partnering with En Route Productions! We are a full-service real estate media company offering a variety of services to help get the best marketing for your listing, from high-quality premium photos to breathtaking aerial drone stills to enchanting Twilight shots. In addition, we offer social media videos/Reels, iGuides (3D virtual tours), virtual stage photos and more. Please visit our website https://enrouteproductions.ca for more information.