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Preparing for an Open House Checklist
Never stage an open-house without completing this checklists, first. Prepare you home as if you favorite celebrity was coming over. This free checklist is for real estate agents and home sellers when putting a house on the market.
General Preparation:
Create a bright, cheerful and serene environment.
Open curtains, drapes and blinds, and turn on lights in all rooms and closets.
Add a welcome touch by baking some cookies and putting out some fresh flowers.
Water interior plants and throw away old plants and flowers.
Put away valuables, money, jewelry and medicines in a safe or concealed place!
Entryway:
Remove clutter from foyer/entry and make sure it welcomes you.
Have a clean welcome mat and clean all windows and mirrors.
Bedrooms:
Make beds, organize clothes, toys and closets, straighten up pillows and bedspreads.
Clean wastebaskets, dust blinds, doors, shelves and floors, vacuum carpets.
Open all blinds and hang them to a uniform height.
Bathrooms:
Hang clean hand towels, put out fresh soap in clean soap dishes.
Remove all personal hygiene products from vanity and close the commode lids.
Put out a fresh box of tissues and toilet paper.
Clean bathtubs, shower stalls, vanities, sink areas, mirrors and medicine cabinets.
Install new shower curtains, if necessary.
Remove mildew from walls and caulking.
Kitchen:
Clean the kitchen sink and put away all dishes. Make sure everything shines including your windows!
Clean the kitchen sink and put away all dishes. Make sure everything shines including your windows!
Dining Room:
Consider setting your dining room the table with linen and china
Place an attractive centerpiece on your dining room table.
Dust the chandelier and replace all burned out bulbs, dust china cabinets.
Living Room, Family Room and Den:
Dust, polish, vacuum and clean floors and furniture.
Adjust couch cushions and pillows.
Clean up wood around the fireplace and light your fireplace during cold weather
Dispose old newspapers and mail.
Organize bookshelves, reduce all clutter.
Basements, Attic, Laundry Room, Porches and Decks:
Reduce clutter, sweep, dust and organize all areas.
Other Preparation Requirements:
Post your Open House on our website at least one week in advance.
Place an Open House ad in the newspaper with our web site address, if desired.
Follow our advice on how to show your property.
Print out 10-15 Property Displays from our website and offer them to prospective Buyers.
Print out and prepare a Buyer Registry sign-in sheet.
Ask a Lender to prepare various Good Faith Closing Cost Estimates to help Buyers calculate closing costs and monthly mortgage payments.
Prepare a table near your foyer, kitchen or dining area for guests to sign in. On the table, place our Buyer Registry, a pen, your Property Display Sheets and Good Faith Closing Cost Estimates.
Have available a copy of your survey, appraisal, property blueprints, Home Inspection Report, Property Condition Disclosure Statement and Seller Property Improvement Form.
Post our Open House directional signs in your neighborhood to direct Buyers to your house.
Post our Open House sign in your front yard.
Make sure all pet and garbage odors are removed from your property.
Make sure any annoying pets are placed out of the house.
Prepare some cookies, snacks and beverages, if desired.
Consider having a partner help you host your Open House and review our Safety Tips.
Turn on all indoor lights, open all blinds and curtains, and be ready to welcome Buyers.
Cordially greet all Buyers. You never know who they might know, what they might say, or who they might refer to your property!
After greeting each Buyer, ask them to sign our Buyer Registry and offer them a Property Display.
Let Buyers stroll through your property and remain available to answer any questions.
Remember a well prepared home and properly priced home sells itself!
This creates a private checklist in your account.