When living in Austin, Texas, having an open house is an opportunity for potential buyers interested in an Austin home to see what it looks like first-hand. This gives people a chance to see the rooms and hallways up close and check out the little things that can’t be seen from an Austin MLS listing or a virtual tour. Work with a real estate agent to make the home look as inviting as possible. Provide refreshments. Advertise the open house well so that people will come. Here are a few tips to help make it a success.

Preview

Invite the neighbors for a special open house preview about an hour before the advertised event. They may have never seen the inside of the house. This is the ideal opportunity to see what the house looks like from the inside.

Balloons

Tie some balloons to the realty sign. While this may sound a little cliché, it works. There may be potential buyers driving through the area looking at the neighborhood that have not seen the listing. This will prompt them to stop and come in.

Pets

Have a friend or family member take the cats and dogs for the day. This is not the time for people to meet them.

Aromas

It is nice to have some treats for the guests. Baked goods always make the house smell good, so consider making cookies, bread or muffins for the event. If you are not handy in the kitchen, potpourri or a light air freshener will help the home smell fresh and clean.

Personal Items

Put away family photos, knickknacks and mementos. Lock up anything of value or take it out of the house completely.

Cleanliness

Clean the house from top to bottom or hire a cleaning service to do it for you. Keep in mind that people may be looking at closet space, so don’t hide things in there.

Outside

Mow and edge the lawn a day or two before. A well-kept yard makes a great first impression. Put away any toys or bicycles. Clean up any trash and debris that take away from the overall effect. Do any minor maintenance necessary to enhance the home’s exterior.

Don’t Stay

Once the Austin real estate agent arrives and it is time for the open house to begin, vacate the premises. You should not be present while people are looking at the house. While you could probably give them some valuable information, it is better to let potential buyers explore on their own and have the realtor do the talking. Be available by cell phone in case there are any important questions to be answered.