‘Tis the season for open houses. If you are planning to sell your home, the open house will be an important part of the marketing plan. It invites potential buyers to dream inside the very same space they may one day call home. Here are a few tips for a successful open house:

Clean house. Be sure your home is Spic and Span — as clean and as neat as possible. Remove the clutter, empty the rubbish, clean out closets and polish the fixtures.

Find good help. Consider hiring someone to help manicure the landscaping or painters to put on a fresh coat inside and out. Do a walk through with your agent before the open house and ask your agent about the benefits of staging.

Spruce Things Up. Add a new shower curtain, fresh towels, and new guest soaps to every bath. Set the dining table with pretty dishes and candles. Buy a fresh doormat. First impressions last.

Add flowers. Remove a major piece of furniture or two from each room to give a sense of spaciousness. Light a fire in the hearth. Likewise, closet those kitchen appliances and bathroom items to give the illusion of more space.

Lighten up. Open the window covers. Turn on all the lights. Even during the day, lighting adds sparkle.
Lose the pets. It’s best to temporarily board Fido and Fluffy elsewhere. If that’s not possible, confine them to a cage or room, basement or bath, and let your agent know where they are!

Avoid hosting. Stay at someone else’s home during your open house and let your agent do the talking. It’s awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you around.

If you would like a complete analysis of improvements that are worth your while and a free market analysis, please call us at 781-648-3500.

If you have considered selling your Arlington home, now may be a great time! February marks the beginning of the spring real estate market and our inventory is the lowest it’s been for years – approximately half of what it was in 2007. When you review the chart below, you will note that the average price for a single family home in Arlington, has held steady, and increased for condominiums and multi-family homes.

Despite what you may hear about the poor state of the real estate market in other areas, Arlington continues to hold its value. When you compare the average days on market, you will notice that properly priced homes do not stay for sale very long! In fact, our greatest problem in Arlington is lack of inventory.If you are surprised by this data (as many are) and would like a BOWES consultant to provide a free analysis of what your home may be worth, please call us at 781-648-3500.