How to Conduct Your Own Open Home When Selling Privately

For many homeowners considering selling their home without an agent, the idea of conducting their own open home can be intimidating.

What do you say?

How should you prepare?

Do you follow buyers from room to room?

What happens if somebody asks a question you can’t answer?

The good news is that you don’t need to become a real estate salesperson overnight.

A successful open home is less about delivering the perfect sales pitch and more about being prepared, organised and giving potential buyers the opportunity to properly experience your home.

And there is one significant advantage you already have:

Nobody knows your home better than you do.

Prepare Before Buyers Arrive

Your open home begins long before you open the front door.

Make sure the property is clean, uncluttered and presented well. Open curtains and blinds where appropriate, let in natural light and ensure outdoor areas are tidy.

Think about temperature and ventilation too. You want buyers to feel comfortable enough to spend time looking around.

Remove valuables, medications, personal documents and anything else you wouldn’t want accessible during an inspection.

Then walk through the property yourself.

Try to see it as though you were arriving for the first time.

Know the Important Facts About Your Property

Buyers may ask questions about the home and surrounding area.

Prepare beforehand so you can answer straightforward questions confidently and honestly.

You may want to have relevant property information readily available and know who buyers should contact if they require information relating to the contract or legal aspects of the sale.

If you don’t know an answer, don’t guess.

There is nothing wrong with saying you will find out and come back to them.

Welcome Buyers — Then Give Them Space

You don’t need to escort somebody around every room providing a running commentary.

Welcome them warmly, explain anything they need to know and allow them time to look.

Some buyers like to ask lots of questions.

Others want to quietly walk through the property and discuss it privately.

Pay attention to what each person seems comfortable with.

Being available without hovering can create a much more relaxed inspection.

Don’t Feel You Have to “Sell” Every Feature

One of the great advantages of selling your home yourself is authenticity.

You aren’t reciting a script about a property you first saw two weeks ago.

You have lived there.

If a buyer asks what you like about the home, you can tell them.

Perhaps it’s the winter sun in the living room, the afternoon breeze on the deck, being able to walk to the shops or the fact that the back garden is wonderfully private.

Those small observations can communicate something photographs and floor plans cannot.

But let buyers form their own opinion too.

Keep a Record of Enquiries and Attendance

Organisation becomes particularly important when selling your home privately.

Keep accurate records of the people who enquire about the property and attend inspections, together with relevant contact information and follow-up notes.

This makes it much easier to keep track of genuine interest and ensures potential buyers aren’t forgotten after a busy inspection.

Follow Up Professionally

Following up doesn’t mean pressuring someone for an offer.

It may simply mean asking whether they have any questions, whether they would like another inspection or whether there is further information they require.

Their feedback can also help you understand how buyers are responding to the property.

Because you are dealing directly with them, you receive that information firsthand.

What If You’re Nervous?

That’s completely understandable.

The first inspection may feel unfamiliar because you haven’t done it before.

Preparation changes that.

Know how you want the inspection to run. Have your information organised. Think about likely questions beforehand.

And remember: you don’t need to pretend to be a real estate agent.

You are the homeowner presenting your property to people who may want to buy it.

Madeline Can Help You Prepare

Open-home preparation is one of the areas in which Madeline D’Anastasi can provide practical guidance when you choose to sell your own home.

With more than 25 years of real estate sales experience, Madeline understands the inspection process and the questions and situations homeowners may encounter.

She can help you prepare so that when buyers walk through your front door, you know what to expect and feel confident managing the inspection yourself.

You conduct the open home. You speak to your buyers. You remain in control.

Madeline is there beside you with the experience and guidance to help you prepare.