Make the Most of Your Open House This Fall
Seasonality can impact the housing market by as much as 10%*, experts explain how to use the seasons to your advantage
The seasons are changing, and so is the real estate industry, which will likely lead to more open houses this fall and winter! The NAR recently implemented new guidelines for hosting open houses. These guidelines require anyone touring a home to sign a buyer agreement to clarify client representation while viewing the home.
Typically, people are more apt to buy in the spring and summer months (source), but with fewer homes on the market during the off-season, there is more competition for buyers. Now, with more incentive for agents to showcase and tour homes, it’s time to prepare your listings for cozy fall and winter open houses.
The days are shorter, and the weather is a bit more tricky to navigate, but Agent Advice has some expert tips, both practical and creative, on how to host a successful open house that will attract buyers. Let’s dive in!
Precautions to Take Ahead of an Open House
You may immediately jump to thinking about decorating with fall wreaths and offering hot cider, but preparing for an open house during the fall and winter months takes more effort than decor.
The weather can take a toll on any house, so ensuring that all aspects of your listing are structurally sound and functioning correctly is imperative.
Here are a few starting points to check on that could make an impact if any damage has occurred:
- Have the roof inspected: We want to avoid any surprises here! Loose or cracked tiles could lead to water damage, so having a professional trace any issues will be a relief for your client and make for a good selling point to potential buyers.
- Clear the gutters: Fall leaves can clutter gutters. Having them cleaned for proper drainage is a good idea and will help curb appeal.
- Prepare for freezing temperatures: A frozen pipe can burst and cause tremendous damage. If the house is not being lived in, drain the pipes, run water, and set the temperature above 60 degrees for extra precaution.
- Book a boiler service: It’s imperative to ensure the heating system works before the cooler months. Typically, if you have a boiler, problems arise at the beginning of the season.
- Eliminate Draughts: Any breezes running through the house could be an issue for buyers. Before your open houses, check the windows and doors for any possible gaps and eliminate any problem spots.
These proactive steps will help ensure the foundation is secure and sound throughout the season. Taking these precautions will also help solidify your relationship with your clients, who trust that you will go above and beyond to protect their assets.
First Impressions Matter
First impressions always matter. Buyers’ decision-making begins as soon as they pull up to your listing! People don’t forget the first time they walk up to a house or the feeling they get when they first lay eyes on the potential new home.
If you want a buyer to take a tour seriously with an optimistic viewpoint, let’s take some initiative with the exterior of the property for buyers to begin their experience of your open house despite the fall and winter weather:
- Tidy up the yard: The aesthetics of having a cleaned, well-maintained yard significantly impact buyers’ initial impressions. If you don’t have time yourself, have a lawn service come by to trim hedges, remove leaves, and mulch garden beds to show that this home is well taken care of.
- Clear paths and walkways: Be prepared for icy and snowy conditions. You should shovel pathways and lay down salt to help eliminate accidents and create a safe entry into the house.
- Use garden features: You want to help buyers visualize how they can use their outdoor space year-round, and featuring benches or seasonal planters will help create an inviting feeling even in the fall and winter months.
- Use Seasonal Decor: If you want to create a homey feeling before they step inside the property, sophisticated wreaths and topiaries appropriate for the season could be a good idea to incorporate.
- Turn Exterior Lights On: Ideally, you will be hosting your open house during the day, but if it’s dreary out, light up all the exterior lighting to give a sense of warmth even on the exterior.
Ensuring that the exterior is gorgeous and well-kept will put buyers at ease with the assumption that the interior is equally maintained.
Creating a Homely Feel
Imagine what you want your buyers to feel like when they come in from cool weather and what you can do to help them feel comfortable and welcome as soon as they walk in the door.
This is where you can get really creative to help provide potential buyers with an experience and help them envision what living in this property could feel like.
Here are some ideas to help:
- Keep the house warm: Set the temperature at a comfortable level and provide a closet should anyone want to hang their coats. If the house has a fireplace, what’s better than the crackling sound of a fire in the background for a cozy vibe? In fact, if the house is staged with a television, you could have a seasonal fireplace playing on the screen.
- Provide warm scents: The sense of smell is powerful in creating memories, and typically fall and winter smells provoke truly positive feelings instantly. You could have hot apple cider in the kitchen, bake off some cookies, or set up candles as beautiful accents throughout the house, adding to the overall experience.
- Maximize natural light: Natural daylight filling the space will add an element of cheer in shorter days. Use lighting to create a warm and cozy mood and brighten up darker spaces with soft lamps, try to steer clear of abrasive overhead lighting where possible.
- Provide Fall/Winter Spread: If the home has a gorgeous kitchen or social space you want to highlight, create seasonal cheeseboards, desserts, and beverages to offer and add a beautifully decorated touch to the overall experience and feeling of what it would be like to live in this house.
These touches make a big impact! Buyers will be able to feel at ease and get a sense of what life could be like there. Also, creating a social and comfortable vibe allows for more conversation and builds your networks.
Timing Is Key
We’re already working in the off-season for real estate agents, but implementing these steps and tips will help you find the right buyer for your listing more easily.
Typically, open houses are after 5 p.m. during the week and on the weekends. The days are shorter, so it is important to make the most of your time and take advantage of the daylight as much as possible.
- Leverage outdoor lighting: We’ve already mentioned this, but it may be worth investing in uplighting and exterior pathway lighting to help your listing shine even in the evenings.
- Maximize daylight hours: Natural light is the best way to showcase your listing’s features to buyers. If you can, plan to host your open houses on the weekends as often as needed and keep your schedule open for showings during the weekdays.
- Be flexible: Be prepared to adjust if the weather causes unpredicted schedule changes. Start checking the weather and adjust your open house dates and times if you expect storms that would hinder buyers’ attendance.
Planning around daylight and weather will help set your open house up for success. Hopefully, it will eliminate the stress of navigating bad weather and open the door for a warm and cheerful experience while touring your listing.
Summary
A little more work is required during the fall and winter months to create an open house that makes a lasting impression, but with these tips, we hope you’ll be closer to finding the right buyer faster.
Remember, real estate is a long game if you want to grow your business. Going the extra mile for your clients during these months will likely help you build a strong referral business and showcase the services you provide to all who attend.
I hope you feel inspired and prepared to confidently host your open houses!
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