4 Open House Mistakes That Could Potentially Kill Your Sale
When it comes to selling your house so that you can get into your new home, you want to make sure that you do everything right so that the sale happens as quickly and as effortlessly as possible. Here are four mistakes that you'll want to do your absolute best to avoid at open house so that you don't inadvertently kill the real estate sale:
1. Lighting Candles and Spraying Air Fresheners.
Whether you burnt dinner the night before, cooked fish without thinking about the smell it would leave behind in the house or your dog decided to let loose its bowels all across the house, your home reeks and there is a showing today. Unfortunately, even the best candles and air freshener sprays in the world probably can't help you. Aside from that, when you try to mask another odor, especially heavily, it can be distracting and also make it seem as if you're trying to hide something – even if it is something as innocent as smelly fish. In some cases, it may be better to reschedule. Speak to your real estate agent to see what he or she thinks and to devise the best possible plan.
2. Keeping the Home at the Wrong Temperature.
It is crucial that you avoid having your home too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. While you may be trying to keep your energy bills at a reasonable price, the fact of the matter is that you are trying to sell your home and this means that you need to make your potential buyers happy. So, when there is an open house, keep your home at a reasonable temperature for the weather outside. Usually, you can play it safe by setting the thermostat to 69 degrees in the summer and 72 degrees in the winter.
3. Allowing Your Pets and Their Belongings to Be Out and About.
While you may love Fido or Fluffy, they could cost you the sale of your home if you allow them to stick around for the open house. Some think that they can place them in the backyard or put a gate up and keep them in the laundry room, but this prevents buyers from viewing these portions of the home/yard, which isn't a good thing. The best thing you can do is to have them placed in a kennel for the day. However, that's not enough. You need to also remove any traces of them. For example, remove any chew toys, food bowls, treats and litter boxes.
4. Playing Your Favorite (Or Any) Music.
While it is easy to assume that your favorite jazz band will help soothe your guests as they peruse your home, prospective buyers may actually get the wrong idea. In fact, they may actually think that you're trying to hide an undesirable noise, such as a loud heating and air unit, a nearby freeway or noisy neighbors. If it isn't that, they may just not like your taste in music, which could present a negative feeling toward the home and cause the sale to fall through before it ever gets to start.