Sarasota Real Estate Blog

Summer time is a time in which many people tend to shop for homes. If you're one of them, then, it is the season to get ready for your open house! Though, many questions tend to arise when putting an open house together. How do I plan it? What do I do? When is the best time to schedule it? Let's break it down.

We'll start off with the "when." While there are a few different scenarios when weekdays can work for an open house, such as on a holiday, the ideal time are Saturday or Sunday afternoons. The reason is simple: Most people have free times on the weekends. While this may not come as much of a shock, it is vital information to know if you’re looking to sell your home. During Summer months, even though school is out, you'll want to stick to the weekends as best as you can. Though students are off school, many parents are still working Monday-Friday. This doesn’t mean you need to schedule your open house on those exact days, but it will certainly help. If you're forced to schedule it during the week, make sure you speak with your Realtor to help market the open house around town. The further out your market the open house, the better chances of a plentiful turnout. 

The "when" isn't the only factor, though. Whether this is your first open house or you have sold a few before, it’s imperative to let your Realtor stage your home or let them partner with a professional interior designer/home staging company to create the best possible ambiance for your guests. It's crucial to let a professional assist this part of the open house process because it can make or break a potential home sale. While it's not necessary to completely dazzle your guests, you want to ensure they are comfortable and inspired by what they see. 

Now, how to get the word out? You do not have to be an advertising & marketing guru to advertise your open house, but you should feel free to get creative with it. Make a post on all of your social platforms such as Facebook & Instagram advertising the big day(s). Send out a mass email to your network of colleagues, friends and family members. Create alluring marketing material for the day of the event. Brochures are tangible which make them a meaningful item to have when they leave. It'll have the house specs, contact info, and all of the necessary info for them to leave with. The importance of having a professional create a brochure and other marketing materials is key. We recommend having professional photos taken to ensure customers can have the best possible impression of your home after viewing it in person. Your guests have only a finite time in your house, so you want to ensure they have memories and imagery that lasts--that pop. 

All the work that you put into your open house, you'll want to reap the benefits. Now that you have some tips and advice in your back pocket, this is where the fun begins. You can now formally put your home on the market! Get out the yard signs to grab the street and neighborhood traffic, start posting on social media platforms, and team up with your Realtor to come up with a strategy for marketing your home. Happy selling!