As a popular D.C. suburb in the county of Fairfax, Springfield remains one of the best places to raise a family, commute to D.C. for work or leisure, and enjoy all that Northern Virginia and the D.C.-metro area have to offer. Whether buying or selling homes, open houses are an important part of the process. They allow buyers to view a home in person and ask questions of the listing agent. They also give sellers an idea of what buyers want in a home. If you're thinking of scheduling an open house, here's how to do it with the help of your realtor.
Sellers
Ensure your home is ready to shine when shown
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
Before scheduling an open house, you must ensure your property is ready to impress buyers. This means decluttering, deep cleaning, and making any necessary repairs. Your realtor will be able to give you a good idea of what needs to be done in order to make your home appealing to buyers. Common suggestions include:
-
Cleaning carpets and floors
-
Dusting ceiling fans and light fixtures
-
Washing windows inside and out
-
Clearing clutter from countertops, tables, and shelves
-
Putting away personal items like family photos, diplomas, and fragile collectibles
Your realtor will also be able to help you stage your home to make it more appealing to buyers, or will be able to provide recommendations for a reputable staging company with other luxury sales under their belt.
Work with your realtor
Your realtor will have a good understanding of the local market and what time of day or week will work best for an open house. They will also be able to promote the open house to their network of buyers and other agents.
Schedule open houses
To prepare for an open house, the first step is to select the weekend(s) on which it should be open. Your realtor will take into account things like:
-
The days of the week that buyers are most active in your area
-
Major holidays that might impact traffic to your open house
-
Your work schedule and availability, since the open house should occur when you are able to be away from home for several hours.
-
The listing agreement you have with your realtor should outline the number of open houses required or recommended.
You and your realtor will then work together to choose the specific date(s) and time(s) for your open house.
Market your listing and advertise the open house dates
Photo courtesy of Pexels
Your realtor will create marketing materials like flyers and postcards to advertise your listing, including sending out notices about open houses once scheduled. They will also list showing information on their website, as well as any other relevant cross-postings on other sites. In addition, they may choose to place a sign in front of your home or put out directional arrows on the day of the open house to make it easy for buyers to find. It is also common to see your listing marketed on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Be prepared for visitors
You will want to make sure you are prepared for visitors on the day of the open house. This means having all doors and windows unlocked, as well as any gates or fences that may be blocking the entrance to your home. You will also want to make sure any pets are either out of the house or confined to an area where they will not be seen or heard by visitors. You may want to consider turning on all lights in the home, as well as opening curtains and blinds to let in natural light. Finally, you will want to ensure any valuables are either put away or out of plain sight. Your agent can help with these last-minute preparations, but the more you can do before they arrive, the easier the day will be.
Let your agent take the lead
Photo courtesy of Pexels
Your agent is likely to strongly recommend you let them host the open house. This way, they can answer any questions buyers or other agents might have about the property. If you insist on being present during the open house, you can certainly do so, but be aware that potential buyers may feel awkward speaking with the owner while touring the home. It can be off-putting to buyers to try to envision your property as potentially their own when you are present while they are touring your home. Your agent will be able to strike a balance between being informative and not overwhelming to visitors.
When it’s time to close up shop
At the end of the scheduled open house time, your agent will thank any remaining visitors for their time and ask them to fill out a contact card if they are interested in learning more about the property. They will then do a walk-through of the home to make sure that everything is as it should be and that no one has been left inside. After this, you are welcome to return home. You should expect to receive a report from your agent within a day or two detailing the number of visitors, any feedback they received, and any follow-up that is needed. You can then debrief with your agent to get their feedback on the open house and talk about any next steps. If you have multiple open houses scheduled, this will be a good time to review what worked well and what could be improved for future showings.
Buyers
Understand the local market
If you are seeking one of the single-family homes for sale in Springfield, VA, you'll want to stay up to date on the latest market trends. The median listing price has stayed between $500,000-$700,000 for the majority of months for the past five years. As of August 2022, it was $635,000 when factoring in both single-family homes and condos. For single-family homes specifically, the median was $699,900 in August. The number of homes and condos for sale has not exceeded 255 in the past five years, and as of August, the number stood at 237 homes for sale that month.
For single-family properties, the number of homes for sale per month has not exceeded 160 in the past five years, though 144 were available in August 2022. The median days on the market, counted as the day of listing through the day of accepted offer, has been below 120 for the past five years. In August, it was a mere 34 days, so properties move quickly in this market. As such, it is important to be prepared to make an offer as soon as you find a property you love. To be able to move quickly, you should be pre-qualified for a mortgage or ready and able to pay the home cost upfront.
Have a solid list of requirements for your next home
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
You will want to be very clear on what you are looking for in a property before beginning your search. This includes everything from the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you need, to whether or not you need a garage or carport, multiple stories, or a large backyard. You should also have an idea of which Springfield VA homes would work best for your needs in terms of commute, proximity to local schools if you have school-age children, and proximity to shopping and other amenities.
Work with a real estate agent you trust
When you are ready to start looking at properties, it is best to find a reputable realtor, like real estate agent Denise Buck, who can help guide you through the process. A good agent will be familiar with the Springfield, VA real estate market and will be able to help you find properties that fit your requirements. They will also be able to provide insights into each property you are considering and help you decide whether or not it is the right fit for you.
Let your agent know your availability
In order to show you homes during times that won't disrupt your daily life, your real estate agent will need to know what days and times work best for you. Be as specific as possible when letting them know when you are available so that they can plan accordingly. They will line up listings to show you during the times discussed. If you spot an open house advertised and want to attend, be sure to communicate with your realtor so they can be present to help point out things you may have missed.
Visit open houses in the area
One of the best ways to get a feel for the market and what is available in your price range is to attend open houses. This will also give you an opportunity to see multiple properties in one day so that you can compare them side by side. Make sure to take note of things that you like and don't like about each property so that you can narrow down your search.
Be prepared to move quickly
As mentioned earlier, Springfield, VA homes tend to move quickly. This means that you need to be prepared to make an offer as soon as you find a property you love. To be able to move quickly, you should be pre-qualified for a mortgage or ready and able to pay the home cost upfront. You'll let your agent know as soon as you are ready to submit an offer and they will help you with the next steps.
While open houses are not required, they are a common and effective part of the selling process. By following these tips, you can ensure your open house is a success. Denise Buck at DC Metro Realty is a top real estate agent in Springfield, VA who can help you schedule an open house for your home. Contact one of the experienced agents at the DC Metro Realty Team today to get started.
*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock
*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock
