Spring is open house season, when homeowners open their doors in the hopes of finding a buyer for their home. Perhaps you'd like to sell your house this year. But is your home open house ready?
While I'm not in the market to buy a home, I attend open houses from time to time. Two homes that I toured in a neighborhood not far from my house are perfect examples of what you should and shouldn't do when holding an open house.
Both homes I saw were similar in style and age, except that one home featured newly painted walls in appealing neutral colors of soft beiges and yellows, brand-new carpeting and a lush backyard complete with a playground set that my daughters would love. The house was empty and wasn't furnished, but everything was neat and clean. I could envision my family living there.
A very similar home I toured about two blocks away, however, was a different story. I walked through the home's front door to find ugly, old linoleum flooring beneath my feet, and a 3-foot-high doll standing against a wall. Similar dolls could be found in other rooms throughout the home. The house smelled of cigarette smoke, was filled with clutter, and everything from the walls to the floor coverings was old. The real estate agent was happy to have a potential buyer touring the house, so I politely walked through all the rooms and then made a beeline for the door.
The house was being offered at a discount since it needed so much work, but I couldn't envision anybody but a real estate investor or someone who doesn't mind a major project buying that home.
Prepping your house for buyers does take work -- you should clear out clutter and freshen up your home with new paint, etc. -- but it can do wonders. You don't want to send potential buyers screaming from your home. For a helpful article on how to make your home appeal to buyers, check out this story in the Good Reading section on Cyberhomes.com.—Lauren Baier Kim