An open house is a scheduled event where potential buyers can walk through your home. Your Realtor® hosts the open house and is available to answer any questions buyers might have. As a seller, you don’t have to do anything at the open house; you won’t even be there. However, there are some things you need to do ahead of time.

Here are some things every seller should do to prep their homes for open houses. Some of these are tasks you will have to tackle anyways when moving and others are open house specific.

  • Clean Everything No surprise here. You want your home to be in it’s best form for an open house. This means making sure flat surfaces are dusted, floors are dusted and vacuumed, and countertops are clear of clutter.
  • Declutter If your home is for sale, then chances are that you will be moving soon. You most likely don’t want to take everything like that pile of old sheets with holes in it or a dried up gallon of paint with you to your new home. Showcase your closet space by decluttering.
  • Make the Outside of your Home Inviting Don’t forget about the outside of your home when prepping for an open house. A couple pots of fresh flowers, doormat and simple décor will give potential buyers the warm and fuzzies when entering your home. (Check out these tips for increasing your home’s curb appeal.) Make sure that the yard is neat and toys are tucked away.
  • Good smells Clear out the trash cans so no food scraps start to put an unpleasant odor in the house. Have pets? Make sure that their spaces are clean before you leave for the open house. If you can, take them with you. A light scent plug in or running a dryer sheet with some towels can help give your home a pleasant but not overwhelming odor.
  • Safe spot for valuables While we hate to think that someone would take advantage of your open house, it still is important to be smart. Tuck away any valuables, medications, or sentimental items that you don’t want to lose or be broken in a safe spot.
  • Let in the light Buyers appreciate lots of light, so open up those curtains and blinds and let the light inside your home. If you have a room that is lacking in natural light, bring in a couple lamps to brighten the space.
  • Simple Staging Try out some simple staging. Think about the flow of people in your home during a party. Is there any furniture you can remove from a room to prevent a bottleneck? You want potential buyers touring your home to be able to move freely around it and not feel cramped. Tuck away any personal items with names, clear all the items off of kitchen and bathroom countertops, and put out clean neatly folded towels in the bathroom.