If you’re looking to sell a house in Chicago, congratulations, you’ve picked a great time to sell! Chicago has a buzzing scene that earned it 7th place on a short list of the world’s best cities in a 2018 ranking done by Resonance Consultancy. While the city boasts many perks, buying the right home in Chicago really does come down to the location and condition of the house, which makes an open house all the more important to a potential buyer. Here are 10 easy tricks you can use to help make your open house successful and your sale smooth and simple.
1. Try to Make Your Open House Memorable
There are a few ways you can make your open house stand out when a potential buyer is reflecting on their options later on. Some people will provide refreshments, and if you really want to standout, a seller told US News & World Report that he sometimes invites food trucks, gives away sports tickets, notebooks, or other items.
2. Hire a Cleaner
To some people, hiring a cleaner may seem like an extravagant expense that might not agree with your budget, but making your house absolutely spotless for the open house is a necessary cost. Like many things in life, first impressions count when selling a home, and if a person has to focus on cleaning and dusting before moving in, it will ultimately put your property at the bottom of the list.
3. Open the Shades
You want your home to be as inviting as possible, and nothing does that more than natural light flowing through it. This is especially important to remember if you have a great view, after all, if someone is buying a home in Chicago with a cityscape view, they’ll want to be reminded of that as soon as they walk in the door!
4. Have Forms and Information Available
When selling, remember that if you’ve made your property available online, there’s a good chance potential buyers have done their research, and they just want to see the property one time before they seal the deal. In a crowded city, it is especially important to be able to collect, and provide, as much information as possible on the first visit, because the offer could be soon to follow!
5. Try not to Linger
An open house is a definite fly on the wall scenario, especially if you have a listing agent. If you’re showing off the house yourself, be there to greet the buyer, but let them imagine what it would be like to be in their new house rather than show them what you’ve done. Be available for questions, of course, but remember to allow the buyer to paint the scene.
6. Maximize your Space
While you may have your feng shui dialed in, HGTV suggests placing your furniture in such a way as to maximize the most space in each room. Remember, you’re showing off the room, not the furniture in it (unless that’s included)!
7. Use all Resources Available
Making flyers is a great way to spread the word locally, but you never know who is looking into buying a home in Chicago that currently lives in Florida. With apps, Craigslist, Facebook, and other online websites, you should be as digital as possible when listing your property. The more people you reach, the more likelihood you’ll sell at the price you’re asking for.
8. Ask for Help
Even if you’ve decided to list on your own, you can still seek the help of professionals along the way. If you don’t have the energy or eye for design, you can hire someone to stage your home. If you don’t know the first thing about listing your property online, there are plenty of places to find help, including Craigslist, Fiverr, and many other sites.
9. Maintain Contact
Find a way to collect information. These days, it’s as simple as getting an iPad, or you can use a clipboard and sign in sheet. Either way, getting contact information from potential buyers is critical so you can answer any questions and even negotiate down the line, if needed.
10. Secure your Home
This can be an easy step to forget, and it’s unfortunate that we even have to cover it, but one of the best ways to have a successful open house is if you don’t have to worry about someone taking something from your home. You don’t need hidden cameras in every room, but it may be a good idea to get a Ring doorbell or lock your valuable items in a safe place while you have strangers coming in and out of your home.
Read Also: What to Look for in a Home Security System
Hopefully, these tricks and tips will help you cover all your bases and knock your sale out of the park. Selling your home can be a daunting task when doing it on your own, but if you take the time to research each important step along the journey, you’ll have no problem getting your house on (and quickly off) the market!
