How to prepare your home for a winter open house

February 20, 2019 By Ariel Jordan

The winter season can be a great time to sell your house, but while your competition is reduced, success during this time can still depend on a successful open house. To help make your open house as effective as possible, follow these tips.

Take down your decorations. The holidays are over, but if you’re the type that likes to leave the decorations up for a time, taking them down before your open house is a good idea. Prospective buyers may not celebrate the same holidays as you and you don’t want to alienate them.
Clear the clutter. If you haven’t put those holiday gifts away yet, now’s the time. Prospective buyers should be able to focus on your home instead of the collection of things crowding it. Give them nice open spaces to move about and they’ll be appreciative.
Turn up the heat. Warm and cozy is more than a catch phrase during the winter. Bring the temperature up in your home slightly during your open house to keep your guests comfortable. If they are too cold in your home, they aren’t apt to stay long.
Plan for winter apparel. Be it jackets or boots, take extra steps to prepare your entryway for the added material your buyers will bring with them. A designated spot to place these items can make guests feel welcome and keep your home cleaner during the showing and beyond.

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CENTURY 21Ⓡ Open House: Nurturing Client Relationships

November 15, 2017 By Casey Danton

Excellent service means excellent business. That’s the name of the game in real estate. But, how do you manage a full roster of competing clients? We asked several CENTURY 21® team members to share advice on how to make their clients happy, especially when the going gets tough. Each answer we received proved there are never any dull moments in real estate.

How Do You Let a Client Know They’re Important?

“I let a client know they’re important by finding out what I can do to genuinely help them. When my intent is to provide a world-class experience for each and every client, all selling goes away as they know I am here to serve. My intent is to serve their highest motivation and help them achieve whatever goal they want to achieve, and by doing this they know my only goal is to help them achieve theirs.” –Justin Udy, CENTURY 21 Everest Realty Group

“I do my best to let my past clients know they are important to me by keeping them constantly updated on the market, keeping them informed on events and community programs for their local marketplaces, making personal calls on important anniversary & birthdays and holidays too. This year we took extra steps to ensure our past clients had emergency preparedness plans in place due to all the natural disasters we have been experiencing.” –Angela Avilez, CENTURY 21 Award

What Listening Tactics Do You Recommend?

“When in front of clients it’s important to turn off your cell phone. The biggest distraction we have as agents is our phone and when you have it out it’s easy to get distracted. Letting the buyer or seller know you have their complete attention is very important.” –Angela

“I would recommend listening 70% of the time and only talking 30%. To really listen means they need to be able to express thing they may not have the chance to if you’re too busy interrupting.” –Justin

“As we are discussing what they want in their new home, I am jotting everything down to make sure that I understand their wish list. This allows me to know in more detail what they want and it makes it easier to search for the perfect home for them.” –Sarah Figurski, CENTURY 21 Curran & Christie

What Are Creative Solutions You’ve Come up With to Mediate Difficult Situations?

“When there is a problem, seek to get complete clarity and understand the details at a deep level. Difficult situations are not typically difficult to solve once you have all the facts. Only then, do we start the process of being very strategic and very reasonable in how to move forward in a constructive and business-like manner.” –Justin

“There can be a lot of emotions involved in this industry. People are making large purchases or selling the home they have lived in for the last twenty years. I would say my best tip for mediating solutions is listening and keeping that mentality that ‘the customer is always right.’ Just be sure to stay positive and if there is an issue, be sure to work your best to fix it. Also, keep your client in the loop. Even if you don’t have any news, call them to tell them you don’t. I have found that being on top of everything and calling my client before they have a chance to call me has helped me avoid a lot of difficult situations.” –Sarah

How Do You Keep a Roster of Clients Happy?

“I have found that my clients want information timely and delivered efficiently. I strive to ensure that if and when my clients have questions I respond with a prompt answer or a solution for an answer in with expected time frames.” –Angela

“We input all of our clients into our database and will create tags around our experience. Some get the tag of raving fan while other may get the tag happy client. Either way, creating a database of your best clients is a must in real estate, which is truly the business of relationships. It really helps you be intentional about staying in front of them and keeping that relationship.” –Justin

Managing a clash of clients isn’t easy work, but it’s essential to running a successful business. So, follow these tips and if you’re ever at a loss, go with your gut and improvise. If nothing else, remember that serving the client’s needs is what it’s all about.

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How to Host a Kid-Friendly Open House

April 5, 2017 By Casey Danton

As the warm weather approaches and the last days of school are in sight, your open houses may start to become more of a family affair. Moving is not easy for parents or kids, and summer vacation provides families an opportunity to get settled in and adjust to their new surroundings. For this reason, spring is an ideal time to search for the new family home.

With more little ones popping up at your open houses, it’s wise to consider a few ways to keep them occupied so that their parents can have a good look and overall, a great experience. Here are four tips for hosting an open house that is fun for the whole family.

Hire a babysitter.

Bring in a responsible young adult to look after the kids. Depending on the home and the weather, they can bring the party outdoors or plan a few low-key indoor activities to keep them occupied.

Set up a movie or popular kids’ show.

If you’re looking for something more simple, have a few age-appropriate programs ready to play and provide some healthy, mess-free snacks.

Send them on a scavenger hunt.

If you want to get creative, place a few small “treasures” around the house for kids to find. Give them a list of items to look for and have some small prizes on hand to give away.

Create an activity table.

The kitchen is a great place to set up an activity center—put out washable crayons and a few coloring books or activity sheets. Try to get books for a variety of ages to appeal to all of the kids visiting.
If you do decide to make your open houses kid-friendly, make sure to let people know. Taking the extra steps to accommodate the whole family will not only be appreciated by the parents, it may allow them to better visualize their family in the home and bring you closer to adding a “SOLD” sign to the front lawn.

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Questions for Every Room of the Open House

August 9, 2016 By Casey Danton

Open houses provide more than the opportunity to showcase your clients’ listed homes; they also allow you to exercise your knowledge as a real estate agent by fielding questions from potential home buyers. While these questions can range from the common to the rare, most of them are focused on the house or neighborhood in general. However, as they walk through your open house, different rooms may inspire inquiries that are a bit more specific in nature. With CENTURY 21^® Real Estate’s insight, you may find it easier to anticipate these niche questions and prepare for them in advance. Take a look at what questions each area of the house might elicit from potential home buyers.

The Front Door

Some, if not most, potential home buyers are already taking stock of the house before they step in the door. Just seeing the exterior of the house in its neighborhood may lead to the following:

When were the windows installed?
How old is the roof?
What are the neighbors like?

Structural renovations, such as replacing drafty windows or aging roofs, may be costly. Since roofs tend to need replacement every 20 or 25 years, the home buyer will want to factor in maintenance costs. Neighbors are not so costly, but they may affect quality of life. Try talking up positive aspects of the relationship between the current homeowners and their neighbors.

The Kitchen

This room is often the hub of family homes, so it’s important to know its quality beforehand. Expect questions similar to the following:

What are the cabinets made out of?
When were the appliances installed?
Is the countertop sealed?

Cabinets made of solid wood tend to last longer, and newer appliances usually function better. Answer honestly and accurately, but remember to focus on the positive or memorable aspects of these features.

The Bathroom

Maintenance issues with this room are often the most inconvenient, for obvious reasons. The home buyer will want to make sure that everything is functional before they commit. You might hear things like:

How old is the plumbing?
Where does the sewage lead to?
Has it ever been treated for mold?

While these aren’t the most glamorous of topics, they’re key to the quality of the house. Be truthful about the facts, but this might be an area where you stay away from anecdotes.

The Basement

Whether or not the basement is finished, potential home buyers are sure to take a look at it. After doing so, they may ask:

How old is the wiring?
Have you ever experienced water damage?
Has there ever been flooding?

Here, it’s crucial that you discuss past issues you may have had because they may pose an indication for future events that the home buyer should be aware of. For example, if the basement flooded only once during an unusually strong storm, just tell them. It might not be a deal breaker, but it may be something they’d like to know to prepare for in severe weather. Just be sure to include information on how the current homeowner dealt with the problem, and the precautions they took to prevent it in the future.

Develop answers to these questions for your next open house and you may enhance the home buyer’s experience while showcasing your skills as an agent who’s SMARTER.BOLDER.FASTER.^®

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Last-Minute Open House Cleaning Tips

February 19, 2016 By Casey Danton

Your open house is almost underway! You’ve already made sure your home is warm and inviting and you’ve taken time to carefully stage it. Now, here are some last minute cleaning tips to quickly spruce up any areas you may have missed.

Prep for Pets
You may be ready for your open house, but your four legged friends might have other ideas. Perform a last minute inspection of any areas your pets frequent to make sure they haven’t left an unpleasant surprise somewhere in your home. Also, pet hair has a way of showing up unexpectedly. Vacuum carpets and sweep any floors with a rubber broom to clean up debris that may have gathered since your last cleaning.

Check Your Entryway
Although you may have painted your front door and meticulously cleaned your home’s entryway in the days before your open house, recheck it on open house day. Be sure to check for marks on your door, damaged plants, disheveled door mats, and unexpected messiness that may have accumulated in front of your home since you last inspected it.

Clean Up After Kids
If children happen to be in your home during the hours leading up to your open house, you may want to check for additional messes before potential buyers arrive. Look at your lower windows for finger smudges, which can be cleaned quickly with a cleaning agent and microfiber cloth. Also check your doorway for dirt, and look at the lower part of your walls for crayon streaks or other stains.

Ready Your Refrigerator
While easy to overlook, the inside of your refrigerator should be as neat and clean as the rest of your kitchen. Make sure it isn’t full of half consumed food or overstocked to the point where it looks cluttered. Additionally, any fridge magnets should be removed to further depersonalize your home for potential buyers.

Care for Your Lawn
Last minute removal of lawn debris can make your home more appealing and may attract more buyers. Depending on the season, eradicate lawn clutter with a leaf blower, a rake or a snow blower. If you’re too busy for exterior home cleaning, consider hiring someone to do it for you, so you can focus on the interior of your home.

These last minute cleaning tips may help your home shine brighter on open house day.

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Home Buyer Checklist: What to Look for in an Open House

February 8, 2016 By Casey Danton

Open houses may be staged to look like a home decor dream, but don’t let that distract you from the real reason you’re there: to potentially buy a home. Make sure you can look past the neatly arranged furniture and focus solely on whether the house would be a good fit for you and your family. To help, here’s a home buyer’s checklist of things you might have missed at first glance.

Windows – Look specifically if they are facing the right direction to let sunlight in, and whether they open to a nice view (versus directly toward another neighbor’s window).

Under the Sink Cabinets – Check for possible signs of water damage due to leaky plumbing.

Electrical Outlets – Make sure there are enough outlets for the appliances and other electronics you’ll be using. If not, you can decide if that’s a renovation you’d like to make.

Storage Space – Don’t just look to see if there’s enough closet space, but look for closet placement. Also check that the storage is in a convenient location.

Appliances – If they’re included in the house, make sure they’re in good condition. They should be on and working while you’re there.

Under the Rugs – Lift up any rugs to check the condition of the floor underneath.

Floor Level – Check to see if the floors are level. Place a marble or another small, round object on the floor and see if it rolls consistently in one direction.

Attic – If the house has one, make sure it’s well insulated.

Water Spouts – Runoff from the gutters should be pointed away from the house, so take a step outside to see if this is the case.

This list isn’t all-inclusive, but it’s a good place to start. Talk to a CENTURY 21 ® agent to see what else he or she might add.

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5 Common Questions Potential Home Buyers May Ask

February 5, 2016 By Casey Danton

After seeing your home online or during an open house, potential home buyers may have additional questions for you, the homeowner. Being knowledgeable and honest with potential buyers may expedite your home’s sale. Below are five questions you should be able to answer during the selling process.

What is the status of…?
Although you’ve probably listed the vital information about your home’s integrity in accordance with state law, there’s some information that may be absent from those forms and of general interest to potential buyers. They will likely want to know the quality and age of items such as your roof, appliances, plumbing, windows, central heating and cooling, and garage doors. Research your home’s various parts to know this information for potential home buyers.

Has your home ever had a pest problem?
Potential buyers may want to know if your home is prone to infestation by rodents, insects, or any other irksome little creatures. You’ve most likely managed any pest problems before putting your home on the market, but it’s important to give an honest account of your pest history if asked.

How’s the neighborhood?
This question is intentionally open-ended to let you share any pertinent information about the neighborhood that potential buyers should know. Buyers may be curious about neighbors, schools, restaurants, entertainment, safety, and other general facts. Be sure to highlight the stellar aspects of the neighborhood and shift emphasis away from any negatives.

Where is…?
Certain features of your home may be harder for buyers to locate. They may want to inspect items such as the water heater, sprinkler controls, thermostat, pool filter, and circuit breaker. Show potential buyers where these can be found and how they’re maintained.

Is there anything else I should know about this house?
This is your chance to share all the information you wish you’d had known when you moved in or things that may not have been covered yet. You could share things like when trash day is, the nearest hospitals, the best way to care for your lawn and garden, or which neighborhood dogs are your favorite.

Be ready to answer any question a potential home buyer asks. If you don’t know the answer right away, be honest about it and be sure to get back to them promptly.

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4 Common Open House Mistakes Made by Home Buyers

December 21, 2015 By Casey Danton

When you’re looking for your dream home, how do you ensure that you’re getting exactly what you want? One easy way is to stop by open houses in your neighborhood. It’s easy to make a mistake during the complicated open house process, so here are a few things to avoid when attending an open house.

Don’t get distracted by the current state of the house.

Paint colors, carpets, and cluttered rooms can distract you from the way a home looks. When you enter a home and you don’t initially like the way it is decorated, don’t let it stop you from appreciating the architecture of the house. Ignore what’s inside and imagine it decorated with your furniture and photos.

Don’t believe everything you hear.

The homeowners you interact with may very well be interested in helping you find the right home, but at the end of the day, do your own research. You wouldn’t buy a used car without a history, so treat your potential new home the same way. Make sure you know everything, from past damage, to potential for any new problems in the future.

Don’t forget to ask questions.

On that note, make sure that you ask a LOT of questions. Don’t simply walk into a home and sign on the dotted line — that’s not the best way to make a huge investment. Ask questions about everything, from the current condition of the home, to details about the neighborhood. You’ll want to have as much information as you can before you purchase the house.

Don’t try to figure it out on your own.

Open houses can be confusing, so don’t walk in unprepared. The perfect weapon is having your own CENTURY 21© agent by your side! Agents are trained to attend open houses and see what is going on. They’ll know what to ask and look for even if you don’t.

Most importantly, don’t let an open house overwhelm you; it’s meant to be an easy way to see the home you’re interested in. This list can help you take the first steps in preparing yourself for your open house visits and ensure that you find the perfect place for you and your family.

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5 Way to Warm Up Your Open House

December 14, 2015 By Casey Danton

The winter weather is sure to have potential home buyers shivering before they even get to your open house, so it’s crucial to keep your home as warm and as welcoming as possible. Turning up the heat may help, but we have five other ways to create warmth without touching the thermostat.

1. Serve hot drinks
Provide potential home buyers with a hot beverage when they arrive. Coffee, tea, or hot
chocolate can warm their whole body and may make them forget about the harsh
temperatures outside. The sweet surprise could make your spot a bit more memorable,
too.

2. Add warm colored accents
Reds, oranges, and yellows are all on the warm end of the color spectrum. We don’t
recommend going out and painting the walls any of these colors, but adding a touch of them as accents instead. Think: throw pillows, candles, or decorative vases.

3. Open up the drapes
Though it’s getting darker earlier, it’s best to soak up all the natural light you can. Keep
the drapes open to let in outdoor light, supplementing with indoor lamps so your place doesn’t appear too dark.

4. Lay down throws
Add some comfy, textured throws to your couch, such as knits or quilts. Though
potential buyers might not actually cozy up on your couch with a good book, an enticing blanket hints at the idea.

5. Incorporate warm scents
We all know that scent is the strongest sense tied to memory. Play on this by
infusing fragrances such as vanilla, cinnamon, and maple into your home. Try lighting a candle near the entranceway… but always remember to use any open flames safely.

Keep your open house cozy with these tips and potential buyers may never want to leave!

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5 Places You Forgot Potential Buyers Will Check

October 14, 2015 By Casey Danton

An open house is a crucial component of the home sale process. Start with these tips for staging an open house, but don’t stop there. Potential buyers are likely to inspect all areas of the house. Yes, even your “junk drawer” and closets. Here’s a list of five often forgotten places that potential homeowners may check.

The sides of your house

When you spruce up your front yard and backyard, pay attention the sides of your home as well. Potential buyers will likely look at the exterior of your house from all angles. One unkempt side may turn them off from the rest of the home. Make sure the paint and landscaping is in good condition from all angles.

Inside your closets

Don’t stuff everything in your closets and hope no one will open them. Even if the potential buyers aren’t fashionistas, they may still care about closet space. Show it off by organizing it. You wouldn’t want a potential buyer to open a closet just to find a hodgepodge of the belongings you stashed there.

Under your bed

Removing the bulk of storage from your closets is a great way to make closet space appear bigger, but that doesn’t mean your stuff should be shoved under the bed. Not only is it an eyesore, but the potential homebuyer might also see it as a sign that there is not enough storage space. Your best bet is to invest in temporary external storage space so that your open house has all the space it needs.

Inside the shower

Chances are no one wants a small, cramped bathroom. Create storage solutions that may make your space appear bigger and brighter to buyers. For example, stash toiletries and cleaning supplies in a separate closet, a dresser, or under the sink.

Your drawers and cabinets

Potential buyers will probably open drawers and cabinets. Spend time getting inspired by these home organizers. Think about all of the details like your spice rack, whether your dishes match, and finally taming your “junk drawer.” In need of more inspiration? Our Pins may help!

Go the extra mile, and don’t get caught off guard. You wouldn’t want to scream a slow motion “nooooo” as a potential buyer innocently reaches to open a closet.

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