Preparing for Open Houses this Spring: Tips for Success

Spring is one of the best times of year to sell your home in Chicagoland. With winter on the way out, more people will start their house hunt during this season than any other. Listing your home in the spring is a great way to get a jump on the competition during one of the busiest times of year in real estate. 

Holding an open house offers an opportunity to gain an advantage and show your home at its best, and our real estate agents are here to help. Use these tips to make your Chicago open house more successful in any season. 

• Let go of your emotions
  It can be hard to separate your feelings about the house you're about to sell from the reality of how to market it. Also, thinking of all the work before an open house can be daunting. At the end of the day, that's where real estate agents come in! But it's also important that you, the homeowner, shift your perspective a bit. It's important to think about how the house you're living in is no longer your home — it's a product that you want to sell. Looking at it through that lens will make selling it much easier. 
  
  
• Freshen up the exterior
  You never know what you're going to get this time of year. Springtime in Chicagoland can be snowy, muddy or a little of both. Do your best with the conditions you have, but make sure sidewalks, walkways and front porches are clear. Tidy up the front lawn as best you can, clean the gutters and window screens, and put out a few simple, tasteful spring decorations on the porch. 
  
  
• Clean and de-clutter
  Time for some serious spring cleaning. The interior of your house needs to be deep-cleaned, and anything that could be considered "clutter" needs to be eliminated. A good rule of thumb is that 50% of your home's furniture and decor should be removed — this will help the house feel more spacious. Personal items, in particular — family photos, personal toiletries, and kids' drawings — should be taken out. Afterward, hire a professional cleaning service to clean thoroughly. If you want to get an early start, these are all things you can do in the winter to prepare your home for the months to come.
  
  
• Update your listing photos
  If your home was previously listed during a different season, be sure to have new photos taken with spring in mind. Having fall or winter photos alongside a spring listing can signal that your home has been languishing on the market for too long. 
  
  
• Create a welcoming atmosphere
  One of the most important parts of holding an open house is to make visitors feel welcome without making them feel pressured or overwhelmed. Serve some light refreshments and put on some unobtrusive background music. Add a few touches of seasonal decor, but don't go overboard. A vase of fresh-cut spring flowers like tulips or daffodils is a great touch for the season. 
  
  
• Don't go to your own open house
  It makes sense that you would want to be there to talk with prospective buyers and answer questions. But the truth is that the homeowner's presence at an open house can make buyers feel awkward and uncomfortable. Ultimately, you should have a good listing agent who can welcome people to your open house and act as your stand-in. 
  
  
• Lean into the season with your marketing materials
  Signs, fliers, and brochures should all be decidedly spring-themed, with season-appropriate wording and graphics. Spring is a time when people are excited to welcome change, so make people feel like they're welcoming the arrival of spring when they visit your open house. 

Contact us today to learn more about buying or selling a home in Chicagoland this spring. Our real estate agents are here to help every step of the way.