There's lots of inventory available today, and our Sellers keep asking us what we're doing to get their homes sold. Having an Open House is not for everyone, but if you're going to spend three to four hours of your time, you should make it worthwhile. Here are some tips to preparing for and holding a great Open House.

• Make sure the date and time of the open house don't conflict with a major holiday or sporting event.

• Decide where you'll place your flags and directional signs.

• If there are other homes for sale in the neighborhood, make sure you know about them and how they compare with your listing.

• Make sure curtains and blinds are open so the house appears bright and inviting.

• Contact a mortgage company prior to your Open House and ask them to print out flyers showing different mortgage plans available for buyers for the house.

• Have a "sign-in" sheet or Guest register. Here's a little hint: Buy a small plant or household gift and display it as a "door prize." When you're giving something away free, you'll be surprised at how many people will give you their name, address, telephone, and email address.

• Greet your visitors, give them your card and a property brochure, and allow them peace and quiet while they tour the home.

• Be honest about the home's features and improvements.

• Have copies of the Seller's Disclosure available.

• Have copies of the new CIS form available.

• You may want to have pictures of the community's amenities, e.g. the community pool, tennis courts, marina, play area, etc.

• Have comparable sales data available.

• Have a list of other available properties that are in the same area and same location in the event that the visitors to your Open House are looking for something different than your listing.

• Don't be afraid to ask your visitors for their opinion of the house.

• Ask your visitors if they're working with a REALTOR^®, and if they're not, ask them if you could help them in their real estate search.

• When the Open House is done, turn off all the lights, clean up any loose papers, and make sure all doors are locked.

• A few days after the Open House, be sure to send a Thank You note to everyone who attended, once again asking if you can help them with their real estate needs.

Hope these hints help. Happy Open House! See you next week.

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