Hosting your own Open Home is an easy process, and it’s part of the comprehensive service Corban+Dallas offers. I’ll walk you through the steps so you can do it confidently!
Preparing your home for sale
At Corban+Dallas, we provide the marketing materials to help sell your home, including beautifully crafted sale signs. I use two main companies that real estate agents often rely on for these signs, but I also know a third one trying to make its mark in the market. These sale signs will display the most relevant information, ensuring your property gets the attention it deserves.
We’ll also create online advertisements for your listing. Currently, I’m only permitted to advertise on Trademe Property, New Zealand’s number one real estate website. In the future, I plan to approach realestate.co.nz to see if we can expand our advertising there. If they’re not interested, I’ll take our business elsewhere.
What to expect during the open home
Trademe is the platform where everything happens in New Zealand—Kiwis love it. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Trademe proposed a system for contact tracing, which caused a stir. Thankfully, the government declined the proposal. But, I digress. Back to the Open Homes.
We create the sale signs, we handle the ads, and you host the Open Homes. All you need are basic human skills: open the door, let people in, and welcome them. A simple “G’day, come on in, take a look, let me know if you have any questions” will do the trick. You can ask attendees to sign in and collect some data, similar to what real estate agents do to claim they have “the biggest database of buyers.”
However, there’s no need to follow up with unnecessary questions like, “What did you think of our house?” or harass potential buyers. At Corban+Dallas, we’ll teach you how to spot a serious buyer. Trust me, they’ll reveal themselves. I won’t go into all the details in this blog, but in the next one, I’ll share a personal experience where I visited an Open Home and received nine missed calls and countless desperate messages from two different agents. It’s a bad look, and we’ll help you avoid that.
The importance of presentation
One thing is certain: cleanliness and presentation matter. When prospective buyers walk in, you’ve got about 10 seconds to make a lasting impression. Not everyone will feel the same way, but if a few people think, “Wow, this place is great,” you’re on the right path.
Corban+Dallas has its roots in property maintenance, and we know how to make your home shine. Whether it’s landscaping, house washing, or a deep clean, we’ll make sure your property looks immaculate before the Open Home.
Control and transparency during the open home
The beauty of hosting your own Open Home is the control you have. You’re the one with all the information. When a potential buyer asks, “What did you like most about the house?” you’ve got an answer. If they ask, “What didn’t you like?” you can answer that, too. It’s a more personal experience for buyers, who often appreciate meeting the actual homeowners rather than agents. You can even establish a personal connection, asking, “Why are you selling?” or “Where are you moving?” It’s a great way to create rapport and have an honest conversation about the property.
When to call in the professionals
Of course, if you’d prefer not to handle the Open Home yourself, maybe you don’t have the time, or you prefer not to disclose certain things, there’s no shame in calling a local real estate agent. You can say, “I’ve got a job for you,” and let them handle it. Of course, this will come at a cost, but that’s perfectly fine if it’s what works best for you.
I once attended an auction for a house in Royal Oak, and the real estate agent did a great job rounding up a crowd. She underquoted the property price to attract more bidders, and it worked. There was an excellent turnout at the auction. However, I learned an important lesson about how agents use tactics like underquoting to get more people to show up. This is just one of the many tricks agents may use to ensure a successful auction.
Final Thoughts
If you’re unsure about hosting the Open Home or if it’s too much work for you, there’s no harm in enlisting the help of an experienced agent. They’ll guide you through the process and, in the end, help you get the best price for your property.