Preparing for an open house is like hosting a party where you never meet the guests. It’s stressful, and honestly, a little odd. Buyers today have high expectations — they want a home that feels “as close to perfect as the sellers can possibly afford,” says Zinta Rodgers-Rickert, a top-selling real estate agent with 35 years of experience selling homes in Fairfax County, Virginia. Gone are the days when sellers could skip tidying up.
Now, even small details matter. To make sure your home shines, we’ve put together How to Prepare for Your Open House: 23 Simple Steps to Success. By starting your preparations at least a month in advance and following this comprehensive guide, you’ll cover every detail and impress potential buyers from the moment they step through the door.
Step one: Talk to an expert!
Selling your house soon? Connect with a top agent near you to get an expert opinion on how much your house will sell for, what to fix before listing, and the latest local housing market trends.
Thirty years ago when I used to sell a house, nobody tidied up. Nobody made the bed. Nobody cleaned off the kitchen counters or the bathrooms. You understood it was a used house; someone was living there.
