Home staging from the outside in
Oct 28 2011 10:01AM
While some may think open house preparation is a one-weekend event, experts advise that the process should be undertaken over a few weeks and run right up until the day of the first showing.
The Knot advises home sellers make a chronologically arranged checklist that begins two weeks prior to the open house and ends on the morning of. This list should begin with more in depth projects and end with a few simple final touches that homeowners can tend to before disappearing for the day.
For example, homeowners should spend the morning of the open house opening drapes to let light in, ensuring the indoor climate is comfortable and straightening up any untidy spaces. Baking something pleasantly aromatic for open house attendants can also help make a home smell appealing, the source explains.
Home and Garden Television's Front Door also suggests making a checklist in preparation for the open house. However, they also advise that homeowners should begin with outdoor projects and then move onto the home's interior. Curb appeal can make a lasting first impression, and tending to a home's exterior sooner rather than later may possibly draw more potential buyers.
