an important factor that very few sellers consider: the neighbors. Although it’s probably not the first thing a house hunter considers in selecting a new home, eventually, they will be interested in learning something about the neighbors. Neighbors can be both you and your buyer’s best friends. Alternately, they can also turn out to be your biggest nightmare. Taking the surprise element out of the equation helps put buyers to ease, so it’s often a good idea to invite the neighbors to participate in the open house. It goes without saying that you should make sure that the neighbors you invite are indeed people who will make buyers feel comfortable and at home.
TAKE YOUR OPEN HOUSE UP A NOTCH
If traditional open houses aren’t bringing in the crowds in your area, or your first open house fell flat, there’s a way to up your game. This is known as an “extreme open house,” an open house with a party theme in which live music, catered refreshments, prizes, and even entertainment are included in the showing. Holding your open house in a party-like atmosphere gives potential buyers a different, lively perspective of the home in which they can envision themselves as the hosts in a home that’s brimming with life and energy. It’s easy to show off your home’s best features in this relaxed environment. If your house has a gourmet kitchen, hire a chef to cook for the attendees. If you have a spectacular outdoor living space, plan an outdoor barbecue with all the fixings of a fun summer day. Just the prospect of free food can bring a crowd. Don’t be too concerned if you get a lot of “looky-loos” who aren’t really interested in buying. People talk, and there’s honestly no better advertising than word-of-mouth.
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