inception-app-prod/M2M5Y2M0ODMtM2YxZC00NzY1LThmY2YtNzhhNjhhOTgwYmFj/content/2020/10/lbhhlogoorangeandolivecopy-2.png
inception-app-prod/M2M5Y2M0ODMtM2YxZC00NzY1LThmY2YtNzhhNjhhOTgwYmFj/content/2020/10/lisalbhh-logo-orange-and-olivev2-2.gif
  • SUCCESS STORIES
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT BILLY
    • CONTACT BILLY
    • CERTIFICATIONS
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR COMPANY
  • OUR BLOG
  • HOMES FOR SALE
    • ALL 18 LONG BEACH HISTORIC DISTRICTS
    • ◊ BELMONT HEIGHTS ◊ EST 7 MAY 2002
    • ◊ BLUFF HEIGHTS ◊ EST 13 JULY 2004
    • ◊ BLUFF PARK ◊ EST 29 JULY 1982
    • ◊ BRENNER PLACE ◊ EST 1 JAN 1994
    • ◊ CALIFORNIA HEIGHTS ◊ EST 29 AUG 2000
    • ◊ CARROLL PARK ◊ EST 24 JULY 1990
    • ◊ CRAFTSMAN VILLAGE ◊ EST 27 OCT 1992
    • ◊ DRAKE PARK / WILLMORE CITY ◊ EST 28 APR 1998
    • ◊ ELIOT LANE ◊ EST 9 SEP 2003
    • ◊ GRANT NEIGHBORHOOD ◊ EST 15 OCT 2019
    • ◊ LINDEN AVENUE ◊ EST 5 APRIL 1994
    • ◊ LOWENA DRIVE ◊ EST 11 FEB 1992
    • ◊ MINERVA PLACE ◊ EST 7 NOV 1989
    • ◊ ROSE PARK ◊ EST 9 SEP 1997
    • ◊ ROSE PARK SOUTH ◊ EST 7 AUG 2001
    • ◊ SUNRISE BOULEVARD ◊ EST 20 DEC 1990
    • ◊ WILTON STREET ◊ EST 1 AUG 1995
    • ◊ WRIGLEY ◊ EST 12 DEC 1989
    • LONG BEACH HISTORIC DISTRICT VIDEOS
    • POMONA, CALIFORNIA HISTORIC DISTRICTS
  • OLD HOMES RESOURCE GUIDE
    • ANTIQUE METAL REFINISHING
    • APPLIANCES
    • BLOGS
    • FABRICS AND TEXTILES
    • GARAGE DOORS
    • GATES
    • FURNITURE REFINISHING
    • HARDWOOD FLOORING
    • LOCKSMITH
    • NATIVE PLANTS
    • PERIOD & REPRODUCTION HARDWARE & LIGHTING
    • PLASTER/STUCCO
    • PLUMBING
    • POTTERY
    • SALVAGE
    • TILE ◊ REPRODUCTION, VINTAGE, SALVAGE, COLLECTIONS, REPAIRS, HANDMADE, BRAND NAME
    • WINDOWS AND DOORS
    • WOODWORKING
    • HISTORIC PAINT COLORS
    • HISTORIC HOME TOURS & RESTORATION VIDEOS
  • LONG BEACH TRAFIC SIGNAL BOX ART
  • LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
    • SEARCH LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOLS BY ZIP CODE OR HISTORIC DISTRICT
  • CITY OF LONG BEACH COMMUNITY WATCH STARTER KIT
  • LONG BEACH RESTAURANTS, PUBS & BARS
  • PREFFERED LENDER
    • LENDER PAPER WORK 101
    • Mortgage Calculator
  • 2020 ABSOLUTE BEST OF LONG BEACH WINNERS!
  • BILLY’S PICKS | LONG BEACH 2021 EVENTS
    • LONG BEACH TRFFIC SIGNAL BOX ART
  • LONG BEACH HISTORY | 1784 to 1988
    • IMPORTANT DATES IN THE HISTORY OF RANCHO LOS CERRITOS
    • VIDEOS ON LONG BEACH HISTORY
  • LONG BEACH TRAFIC SIGNAL BOX ART
  • ERNEST A BATCHELDER
  • GREENE&GREENE
    • ADELAIDE TICHENOR HOUSE
    • JENNIE A REEVE – TOWNSEND HOUSE
  • THE ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT AROUND THE WORLD
    • ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT DESIGN
  • GUIDE TO RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURAL STYLES
  • PRESERVATION
    • LEVELS OF HISTORIC DESIGNATION
    • MILLS ACT
    • HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF LONG BEACH
  • LONG BEACH MEDIA
  • SCHEDULE A HOME TOUR
  • ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT DESIGN
inception-app-prod/M2M5Y2M0ODMtM2YxZC00NzY1LThmY2YtNzhhNjhhOTgwYmFj/content/2020/09/img6133-2.jpg
Billy OBrien
REALTOR®
562-726-4183
01952648
hello@iambillyobrien.realtor
Sign In
Sign Up
inception-app-prod/M2M5Y2M0ODMtM2YxZC00NzY1LThmY2YtNzhhNjhhOTgwYmFj/content/2020/10/lbhhlogoorangeandolivecopy-2.png
inception-app-prod/M2M5Y2M0ODMtM2YxZC00NzY1LThmY2YtNzhhNjhhOTgwYmFj/content/2020/10/lisalbhh-logo-orange-and-olivev2-2.gif
  • SUCCESS STORIES
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT BILLY
    • CONTACT BILLY
    • CERTIFICATIONS
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR COMPANY
  • OUR BLOG
  • HOMES FOR SALE
    • ALL 18 LONG BEACH HISTORIC DISTRICTS
    • ◊ BELMONT HEIGHTS ◊ EST 7 MAY 2002
    • ◊ BLUFF HEIGHTS ◊ EST 13 JULY 2004
    • ◊ BLUFF PARK ◊ EST 29 JULY 1982
    • ◊ BRENNER PLACE ◊ EST 1 JAN 1994
    • ◊ CALIFORNIA HEIGHTS ◊ EST 29 AUG 2000
    • ◊ CARROLL PARK ◊ EST 24 JULY 1990
    • ◊ CRAFTSMAN VILLAGE ◊ EST 27 OCT 1992
    • ◊ DRAKE PARK / WILLMORE CITY ◊ EST 28 APR 1998
    • ◊ ELIOT LANE ◊ EST 9 SEP 2003
    • ◊ GRANT NEIGHBORHOOD ◊ EST 15 OCT 2019
    • ◊ LINDEN AVENUE ◊ EST 5 APRIL 1994
    • ◊ LOWENA DRIVE ◊ EST 11 FEB 1992
    • ◊ MINERVA PLACE ◊ EST 7 NOV 1989
    • ◊ ROSE PARK ◊ EST 9 SEP 1997
    • ◊ ROSE PARK SOUTH ◊ EST 7 AUG 2001
    • ◊ SUNRISE BOULEVARD ◊ EST 20 DEC 1990
    • ◊ WILTON STREET ◊ EST 1 AUG 1995
    • ◊ WRIGLEY ◊ EST 12 DEC 1989
    • LONG BEACH HISTORIC DISTRICT VIDEOS
    • POMONA, CALIFORNIA HISTORIC DISTRICTS
  • OLD HOMES RESOURCE GUIDE
    • ANTIQUE METAL REFINISHING
    • APPLIANCES
    • BLOGS
    • FABRICS AND TEXTILES
    • GARAGE DOORS
    • GATES
    • FURNITURE REFINISHING
    • HARDWOOD FLOORING
    • LOCKSMITH
    • NATIVE PLANTS
    • PERIOD & REPRODUCTION HARDWARE & LIGHTING
    • PLASTER/STUCCO
    • PLUMBING
    • POTTERY
    • SALVAGE
    • TILE ◊ REPRODUCTION, VINTAGE, SALVAGE, COLLECTIONS, REPAIRS, HANDMADE, BRAND NAME
    • WINDOWS AND DOORS
    • WOODWORKING
    • HISTORIC PAINT COLORS
    • HISTORIC HOME TOURS & RESTORATION VIDEOS
  • LONG BEACH TRAFIC SIGNAL BOX ART
  • LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
    • SEARCH LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOLS BY ZIP CODE OR HISTORIC DISTRICT
  • CITY OF LONG BEACH COMMUNITY WATCH STARTER KIT
  • LONG BEACH RESTAURANTS, PUBS & BARS
  • PREFFERED LENDER
    • LENDER PAPER WORK 101
    • Mortgage Calculator
  • 2020 ABSOLUTE BEST OF LONG BEACH WINNERS!
  • BILLY’S PICKS | LONG BEACH 2021 EVENTS
    • LONG BEACH TRFFIC SIGNAL BOX ART
  • LONG BEACH HISTORY | 1784 to 1988
    • IMPORTANT DATES IN THE HISTORY OF RANCHO LOS CERRITOS
    • VIDEOS ON LONG BEACH HISTORY
  • LONG BEACH TRAFIC SIGNAL BOX ART
  • ERNEST A BATCHELDER
  • GREENE&GREENE
    • ADELAIDE TICHENOR HOUSE
    • JENNIE A REEVE – TOWNSEND HOUSE
  • THE ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT AROUND THE WORLD
    • ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT DESIGN
  • GUIDE TO RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURAL STYLES
  • PRESERVATION
    • LEVELS OF HISTORIC DESIGNATION
    • MILLS ACT
    • HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF LONG BEACH
  • LONG BEACH MEDIA
  • SCHEDULE A HOME TOUR
  • ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT DESIGN
inception-app-prod/M2M5Y2M0ODMtM2YxZC00NzY1LThmY2YtNzhhNjhhOTgwYmFj/content/2020/10/lbhhlogoorangeandolivecopy-2.png
inception-app-prod/M2M5Y2M0ODMtM2YxZC00NzY1LThmY2YtNzhhNjhhOTgwYmFj/content/2020/10/lisalbhh-logo-orange-and-olivev2-2.gif
inception-app-prod/ODEyNGZlMDMtNWI2YS00NDIzLTg3YWUtZWQxMDZjZmQ3OWUx/content/2019/12/featuredimage-6.png
Sellers

Open House Prep Guide: Get Ready In 5 Steps

inception-app-prod/M2M5Y2M0ODMtM2YxZC00NzY1LThmY2YtNzhhNjhhOTgwYmFj/content/2020/09/img6133-2.jpg
Billy OBrien,08/28/2020

An open house can be an ideal way to introduce a bulk of buyers to the property you're hoping to sell them, and done right, an open house can sometimes generate multiple offers. The key, though, is "done right" -- not every open house is going to be a buyer's bonanza, and not every open house showcases a home at its highest potential. 

You want buyers walking in to feel welcome and for the house to be presented as at least a little bit of a party venue, so buyers can imagine themselves hosting their own event for friends and family in the home.

What does it take to prepare for and host the perfect open house? The following 5 steps will help you create a memorable (and, ideally, lucrative) event that will have buyers dreaming about living in your home.

1. Consider a broker's open house

A broker's open house is an open house specifically for real estate agents or brokers who have buyer clients. It's another option that you might discard as too much work, but hosting a broker's open house before your home actually hits the market can create some buzz around the property and help with word-of-mouth advertising -- if an agent or broker thinks it might be perfect for their client (or clients) and have a chance to walk through and check everything out in advance, then they'll be more likely to add it to their list of "must-visits" when you host an open house for the general public.

2. Set a date

Deadlines make things happen, so give yourself one when it comes to your open house. The timing is up to you, of course: 

  • Weekends are perennially popular for open houses because lots of buyers tend to be available, but for buyers who work alternate schedules, a weekend might not work so well. 
  • A weekday evening might be a better option, depending on the price range for your home and whether a bulk of qualified buyers work in jobs that keep them mostly occupied on weekends. 

Consult with your real estate agent about which days of the week and times of day have historically worked best for them, and see what you can find out about the schedules and availability of most buyers in your area, then figure out a time and date based on what you've learned and start getting ready for launch.

3. Tell everybody

No one will show up to your open house if you don't tell them when it's happening and where it is, so marketing the event is a critical component for success. There are a number of ways to do this, you can:

  • put a notice up at the post office or possibly even the local coffee shop,
  • ask your agent to add it to your listing information, 
  • see if any local publications will let you place an open-house advertisement in the appropriate place, 
  • post information at your agent's office and even other brokerages (if allowed), 
  • and of course, set up signs the day of the open house with the address and time clearly visible.

Social media is another fantastic way to advertise your open house. Put it up on Facebook and add it to any neighborhood-specific groups so that people who are interested in the area can see it and tell their friends. Make sure you post it on Nextdoor, too. 

4. Remove clutter

Once you've set a date and advertised the home, it's time to get your property ready for its close-up -- and, fair warning, that's probably going to take a lot of work. You'll need to transform your home from loved and lived-in to looking more like a vacation rental: The ideal look is comfortable and inviting, but not personal.

Start with a serious clutter-removal operation, including furniture. You might want to get rid of a few chairs or even an entire sofa in the living room, end tables or even an entire dresser in the bedroom, and a file cabinet or other ancillary furniture in your home office. 

Remove any personal items, including family photographs from the walls or fireplace mantle, and if you have substantial music or book collections, it might be a good idea to scale back the number of items. 

Remember the ideal and focus on culling any potentially alienating or divisive items, especially; it's fine to have a fixation on religious or political collectibles or artwork, for example, but if you wouldn't find it appropriate in a vacation rental, then you should probably get it out of the way for your open house event.

5. Move the furniture

Once you've eliminated the clutter and even some of the furniture, it's time to rearrange what's there so that you don't have obvious gaping holes in your decor. 

Your agent might be a good resource here, especially if you're not sure how to replace the giant boudoir-focused images you had hanging on your bedroom walls (hey, we're not judging!). Renting some artwork or items from a stager could work nicely for you, but you may also be able to get away with buying some inexpensive but nice-looking landscapes from a local thrift store and putting those on your walls instead. 

Think about the flow of your rooms as you move furniture around and try to leave plenty of space for visitors to walk around and through each room.

Print Details
Previous post
Next post
4 Tips For Assessing Your Home’s Value
What Factors Can Keep Your House From Selling?
inception-app-prod/M2M5Y2M0ODMtM2YxZC00NzY1LThmY2YtNzhhNjhhOTgwYmFj/content/2020/10/lbhhlogoorangeandolivecopy.png

Address

C21 Award Real Estate, DRE 01897784160 North Riverview Drive, #350Anaheim, CA 92808
562-726-4183
hello@iambillyobrien.realtor
longbeachcahistorichomes4sale.realestate

About us

  • SUCCESS STORIES
  • Our company

Consumer Protection & Privacy

  • DMCA Compliance
  • ACCESSIBILITY
For ADA assistance, please email compliance@placester.com. If you experience difficulty in accessing any part of this website, email us, and we will work with you to provide the information.

© 2021 All rights reserved

Created with Placester

Sign in

Sign In
Forgot your password?
Create an account
You have been successfully logged in
The page will reload automatically.
Go to the homepage
Sorry something went wrong
Login or password are incorrect. Please try again.
Try again

Sign Up

Sign Up
Already a User? Sign In
You have been successfully registered
Please check your email.
Go to the homepage
Sorry something went wrong
Please try again.
Try again

Reset password

Reset password
Return to Log In
Reset password email has been sent.
Go to the homepage
Sorry something went wrong
Please try again.
Try again

Change password

Change password
Sign Up
Your password has been successfully reseted.
Go to the homepage
Sorry something went wrong
Please try again.
Try again

Get in touch

Impossible Becomes Possible with the Right People on your Side.
Send
Success! Your message was sent!
Excellent!
Back to homepage
Oops! Error occurred.
Please try again.
Back to form
Already a User? Sign In

Account verification in progress

Account Verified!
You may now log in into your account
Go to the homepage
Error
Please try again.
Go to the homepage

Share this listing

Copy Link