Open houses are an opportunity for potential buyers to get a feel for the property. Here is a checklist of some of the elements all open houses need in order to appeal to both emotional and practical buyers. We’ve categorized them into four general themes: curb appeal, cleanliness, atmosphere and community preparation.

Curb Appeal

• Make the landscaping pristine. Plant new flowers in bland areas, roll up hoses, and clean out the gutters.
• Make sure the house numbers and mailbox are clear and in good condition.
• Clean out the garage and remove any non-essential clutter.
• Wash all external lighting and every window. Make sure every window that can have a screen in it does.
• Clean the front door and the doorknob, so there are no fingerprints.

Cleanliness

• Clean everything. Make sure to remove as much dirt and dust as possible.
• Remove non-essential furniture, and stage what furniture can’t be removed. Less furniture makes a room look bigger.
• Make sure every light works and that all light switches are clean with no fingerprints.
• Clean the carpets. If they can’t be cleaned, replace them.
• Make sure the bathroom is functional and clean, including wiping down sinks and buying new towels.
• Hide cords and cables.
• Clean and organize closets, and leave them open with their lights on.

Atmosphere

• Turn on every light, and add additional lights to dark areas of the home.
• Have every drape or blind open.
• Remove family photos and other personal knick-knacks. A potential buyer wants to be able to envision themselves in the home, not the sellers.
• Remove pets from the home; clean up hair, toys, feeding bowls and other signs of a pet.
• Add a neutral, but positive smell using light baking or another homey method. Try not to go crazy with something like Febreze.
• Unless you’re trying to emphasize how quiet the area is, play some soft, relaxing music.

Community Preparations

• Invite, or otherwise alert, all neighbors a few days in advance to the open house. Give word of mouth time to spread to increase interest.
• Figure out the best time for the local community to come out to the open house. Plan around local events and holidays.
• Try to schedule around the weather. Avoid rainy days if possible, and delay if the weather will be too bad.
• Put out a lot of open house signs.
• Have a registry ready online for potential buyers.
• Anticipate buyers’ questions and be ready with answers.