10 Tips for Hosting an Open House

An open house is a great way to increase your home's exposure. It's also a good way to reach out to buyers who might not otherwise find your house in the real estate market. Whether you have a real estate agent or are doing the home sale yourself, here are 10 homeowner tips to get your house ready to shine.

Visit FindLaw's guide to Selling Your Home for more tips.

1. Repair, Declutter, and Clean Your House

If you must finish any repairs, do it before your open house. Explaining to potential buyers or buyers' agents that you plan to fix your home isn't good enough.

Also, cleanliness is extremely important because home buyers will judge your house based on its cleanliness. Besides basic cleaning and removing clutter, a fresh coat of paint can help to give your house a more polished look.

If you have a pet, vacuum carpets and wipe down surfaces before guests arrive. Clear personal items, reduce pet dander, cut down on unwanted odor, and minimize potential allergic reactions.

Finally, some people use house stagers to give their house a makeover. Adding flowers, removing furniture, and hanging artwork can set the house above the competition and drive the home's perceived value.

2. Prepare Your Property Fact Sheet

The whole point of holding an open house is to let buyers see your home and to let them know more about it. The asking price is only one factor in an ocean of many. So, you should prepare a property fact sheet that outlines the house's essential facts (square footage, number of rooms, etc.).

Also, prepare a sign-in sheet that allows people to leave their contact information and phone number. On open house day, make both documents available to people as they enter the house. Have copies available for people who might request them at another time.

3. Prepare a List of Potential Buyer Questions and Your Answers

One key to a successful open house is anticipating potential questions that buyers may have. Write down possible questions and then ask friends and family what they might want to know. Compile your list and prepare answers that you and your real estate agent can review before the open house. The point isn't to read them off a script but to have thought about potential questions beforehand.

Be careful with your answers, though. If you're moving because you've got children and the house isn't big enough, it's OK to explain that you want a larger house for your family. But don't say your house is too cramped.

Here are a few questions to get you started:

• How far is it to the nearest stores, schools, and major roadways?
• Has the house had any major repairs, and if so, when?
• Why are you moving out?
• What's the neighborhood like?

Be prepared to answer questions from buyers' agents who follow up after clients have seen new homes in person. Some serious buyers might want private showings during weekdays, so always be prepared to accommodate interested buyers.

4. Advertise Your Open House Without Discrimination

If you use a real estate agent, they will advertise the open house online on your Multiple Listing Service (MLS) listing. They might post fliers on local bulletin boards and social media around your community. Place open house signs at key intersections near your home.

Maybe you'd prefer not to use a brokerage firm to help you sell your home. If you are selling your home "For Sale By Owner," you must do these things yourself. Some websites offer free listing tools, but if your home isn't on the MLS, it won't get much coverage. Other websites like Zillow, Nextdoor, and Realtor.com may offer packages at various prices that include MLS listing.

Always treat all prospective buyers equally; what you say about the house could have legal implications. Don't snub people based on any assumptions or bias. Hiring a listing agent might be better than advertising and hosting the open house yourself.

5. Tell Your Neighbors You're Having an Open House

Even though you're moving out, be courteous to your neighbors. After all, potential buyers may talk to your neighbors. Don't let nosy neighbors annoy you — they might be helpful open house attendees. Let them know you will be having an open house so that:

1. They can spread the word about your open house event
2. They don't wonder why there are so many cars parked and people walking around

This will also give courteous neighbors a heads-up not to mow the lawn during that time or to remove garbage cans before then. Don't ask them to do or not do things for you directly.

6. Get Your Children and Pets Out of the House

Send your children away with a spouse, hire a babysitter, set up a play date — just do something to get the kids out of the house. Having children running around under buyers' feet is not a desirable thing. It's also the nature of children to create messes. Finally, children tend to say things you may not want them to.

The same goes for pets. Having your dog sniff incoming buyers is not a good way to make a first impression, and some buyers may have allergies. A dog who has its guard up could also potentially injure strangers.

7. Get Ready Early

Even if you schedule the open house for 9 a.m., someone will inevitably show up around 8:30. If you're still running around with gloves on and a mop, yelling at your kids to get ready, it won't make a good impression. Finishing early allows you to fix last-minute issues, so make a deadline to finish well before you open the doors.

Getting ready early also means you can handle more foot traffic. To keep people engaged, prepare refreshments for open house day. Buyer's agents will tell you that their potential clients want to feel comfortable before signing on — and they're right. Some light food or drinks might go a long way in setting your house apart from other ones on real estate websites.

8. Stick to the Facts

While it is certainly a good idea to make small talk with potential buyers, it's important that you keep conversations neutral and largely stick to the facts. You don't want to end up talking about that one annoying neighbor or overselling how great your house is.

Some people share too much personal information when anxious, such as quickly needing to sell the house to put a nasty divorce behind them. Check yourself if you start to ramble.

It's a good idea to tailor your answers to the buyer's needs. If someone asks several questions about schools, it's pretty safe to assume they have kids, and it would be appropriate to mention some of the more kid-friendly features of the house. Be careful with assumptions (e.g., assuming a couple is married), and keep your answers as neutral as possible.

Finally, don't make promises or legal representations in your answers. Just stick to the facts. These representations can be used against you later, so play it safe.

9. Prepare for 'Window Shoppers'

You should accept that many potential buyers are just window shopping. They're curious, exploring the neighborhood, or simply having nothing better to do. Never be rude to people you suspect are merely looking because even if they aren't buying, they will often report to their friends about places they saw, and one of those friends may be looking to buy.

Spend more time with people who are genuinely interested. The goal is to be helpful and attentive without being overbearing, so look for subtle cues that the buyer may want some time to walk around and take it all in.

It's worth mentioning that criminals often pose as potential buyers to determine what valuable items are in a home. With so many people walking through your house, it's wise to lock away anything portable and valuable that someone could steal. It also prevents you from seeming like a chaperone who doesn't trust anyone in the house, a definite turn-off to any potential buyer.

10. Hire a Lawyer

Last, if you have specific concerns, consider talking to a lawyer before talking to buyers. Home sellers should not rely on real estate professionals alone for lead generation and open house tips. 

The real estate business is very tough to navigate, and a legal expert has their own place in the mix. You should seek the advice of a real estate attorney before moving forward with your real estate listing.