An open house is an important part of showing
and selling your home, but it’s vital to understand that you will be
essentially inviting strangers into your house. Here are some things you’ll
want to secure beforehand.
For
many, the open house is a make-or-break event for marketing a home. The mix of
people stopping by can lead to an offer or a quality referral. With the
directionals pointing your way, the balloons bumping off the sign posts, and
the house looking its best, a successful open house creates a network of
awareness around your listing.
A
lot of cleaning and preparation goes into an open house, and it can be easy to
forget some crucial elements which might impact the safety of the event or even
make the difference between an offer or no interest. Before the doors open, be
absolutely sure you’ve secured the following items in a safe, alternate
location:
1. Drugs. No, we’re
not (necessarily) talking about the sort of stuff you’d see on Law & Order.
We’re talking about prescription drugs. Remember that strangers are going to
visit your home, and while we like to think they’re all interested buyers,
there’s always the possibility that someone will comb through your medicine
cabinet. Pain pills and ADD/ADHD drugs are common targets.
2. Guns. Have a
weapon in your home? Is it locked in a safe, or stashed under the bed? The last
thing you want to grow a pair of feet and walk out the door is a home defense
weapon. Don’t assume your weapon is well-hidden. It they’re not absolutely
inaccessible and secure, they need to be stored off the premises.
3. Heirlooms & valuables. Don’t tempt the weak. Gather up the family jewels and store them
securely elsewhere. Don’t assume that putting them in a jewelry box will keep prying
eyes away. Same goes for highly portable antiques.The expectation of privacy
can get a little murky when people are opening up closet doors and the like.
4. Animals. Okay, so
you don’t keep a wild cougar in your living room, but what about the family
dog? A friendly cat? There’s no such thing as an open-house-friendly pet,
especially where allergies and personal preferences are concerned. (And don’t
even get me started about snakes.)
5. Political material. You
can be as Tea Party or as Socialist as you want to be, but does that mean your
buyer has to be, too? Don’t eliminate half of your buyers off the bat with
polarizing political messaging. (Double-check the fridge for those funny bits
like-minded folks appreciate... they could send your offer right out the front
door.)
When
it comes to open houses, make sure they go off without a hitch for
you. If you’re listing soon, get in touch with your local REALTOR® about selling your
home fast!
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