How to Get Your Home Open House Ready

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April 17th, 2023 by Joyner Fine Properties

open house prep

Hosting an open house is a great way to get more eyes on your listing and increase your chances of finding an interested buyer. However, you need to put in the effort to prepare your home for an open house. Our real estate agents have a lot of experience with this and are glad to share a few tips below.

Consider Hiring Professional Cleaners
The most important part of preparing for an open house is cleaning. Regardless of how you decorate and arrange the furniture, the home really does need to be spotless. Consider hiring professional cleaners to do this part.

Whether you clean it yourself or hire professionals, make sure you tackle less-seen areas like behind the curtains, under the beds, and behind the fridge. Potential buyers will notice these details.
Have the Carpet Cleaned
Carpet harbors a lot of odors. As the homeowner, you have probably gone nose-blind to these odors, but visitors will notice them. Hire a carpet cleaning company to come steam-clean your carpets. Make sure you do this about a week before the open house so the carpets have time to dry.
Put Personal Photos Away
At an open house, potential buyers often try to imagine themselves living in the home. This will be easier for them to do if the decor is more neutral and less personal. So, if you have family photos and similar personal decor on the walls, take them down before the open house. Consider buying some more generic decor at a home goods store to hang in their place.
Let the Light Shine In
Natural light makes any space seem more appealing and inviting. So, clean those windows and open your drapes. If your curtains are dusty, take them to the cleaners. If your blinds are dirty, wipe them down.

Also, make sure the view from your windows is clear. This may mean you have to trim back a few bushes or tidy up some lawn furniture.
Lock Up Valuables
Buyers should not be opening your bedroom drawers or snooping in other places, but it's still good to be on the safe side. Lock up any valuables, such as jewelry or cash, in a safe. If you don't have a safe, you may want to rent a secure deposit box at a nearby bank.
Find a Place for Pets to Stay
If you have pets, it is best for them to stay elsewhere during the open house. You don't know if some visitors will be afraid of or turned off by animals. See if one of your friends or family members would let them come stay for a few days. Or, look for a local kennel that offers short-term boarding.
Make Other Plans
Finally, make some plans for yourself during the open house. In most cases, it is best if you leave the hosting to your agent. Having the homeowner present can make some visitors feel self-conscious. You'll be less anxious, too, if you're busy doing something else you love.

With the tips above, you can present your home as one of the very best Richmond homes for sale. Don't hesitate to contact us if you're looking for an agent.

Categories: Home Selling

Tags: open houses, Richmond, Richmond neighborhoods, Area information, Home maintenance, Home improvement, Selling Your Home, staging tips, moving to Richmond

Related Markets: Richmond

©Joyner Fine Properties - Seller will consider paying buyer agent compensation based upon the terms and conditions of any offer made. Said compensation to be negotiated in the purchase agreement. Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information on this site was last updated 03/02/2026. The listing information on this page last changed on 03/02/2026. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of Delta Media Group MLS (last updated Mon 03/02/2026 4:23:40 PM EST) or CAAR MLS (last updated Mon 03/02/2026 4:10:48 PM EST) or CVRMLS (last updated Mon 03/02/2026 4:19:06 PM EST) or Bright MLS (last updated Mon 03/02/2026 4:18:22 PM EST). Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Joyner Fine Properties may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. All rights reserved.

©Joyner Fine Properties - Seller will consider paying buyer agent compensation based upon the terms and conditions of any offer made. Said compensation to be negotiated in the purchase agreement.
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Agency License Information: Joyner Fine Properties and its agents are licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

How to Get Your Home Open House Ready

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