Make your home inviting

---

• To give your home a pleasant aroma, bake cookies or bread, burn candles or potpourri, boil a pot of cinnamon sticks, and/or put a dab of vanilla on cold light bulbs before turning them on.
  

• Grind a piece of lemon or other citrus fruit in your garbage disposal to eliminate lingering food odors.
  

• Turn off the television and radio. Make it easy for your sales associate to talk with potential buyers.
  

• Ask a friend to care for your pets or take them to the kennel.
  Your sales associate may promote your Open House in the newspaper, with a yard sign, or through other eye-catching materials. Inside, he or she may display information for people to take with them.

Staging a successful open house

---

• Plan to be gone during the Open House so that prospective buyers will discuss your home openly with your sales associate.
  

• If you can't leave, let your sales associate do the talking. He or she can discuss price, terms, possession and other factors, as well as handle objections or questions.
  

• Be polite to prospective buyers but avoid conversations. Allow your sales associate to command their complete attention.
  

• Don't apologize for the appearance of the condition of your home. You may be calling attention to things the buyer had overlooked.
  

• Don't complicate the sale of the home by tacking on drapes, furniture, rugs, etc. If the buyers want these things, the sales associate can ask them later.
  

• Discuss the results of the Open House afterwards with your sales associate and discuss the next step in your marketing plan.

I can provide a videotape and numerous brochures to help you get the most from your Open House.