22 Steps to Hosting the Perfect Open House: Staging Tips

An open house is a huge opportunity for anyone hoping to sell — but you can’t just throw open the doors of your home as-is and expect great results. Before you get ready to open your house up to the masses, make sure you’re following all of these steps.

Clutter-free surfaces: Remove all possible clutter.
Deep cleaned: Clean from top to bottom.
No personal items: Remove all your personal items.

Staged living room with a beige sectional, floating TV cabinet, wood staircase, and large windows overlooking a lawn.

Cozy scenes in each room: Create little vignettes for buyers.
Patched, painted walls: Make sure walls are painted and patched.
Nice linens on bed: Dig out the nice linens.

Staged bathroom with an arched mirror, vessel sink, wall-mounted toilet, and stone tile.

Fluffy towels in bathroom: Use your best towels in the bathroom.
Mirrors on walls: Hang mirrors to expand space.
Shining sinks, showers, toilets: Spruce up your sinks, showers, and toilets.

Dining area with a round table, modern chandelier, and glass doors overlooking a green lawn.

Drip-free faucets: Fix any leaky faucets.
Bright light bulbs in every room: Replace light bulbs.
Half-empty closets: Clear out closets so buyers can see them.

Park path curves past bright pink and orange flowering shrubs and a green lawn.

Fresh flowers and mown lawn out front: Make sure your curb appeal pops.
Pets secured: Secure any pets out of the way.
Valuables locked up in a safe: Lock up your valuables.

Open house sign with red lettering standing in a grassy lawn.

An open house sign out front: Post a sign out front.
A flier in the streets: Advertise everywhere — fliers, social media, and so on.
Open windows: Let in fresh air and light.
A stack of fliers on a table: Provide information about the house.

Cookies, cake, banana-topped custard, and coffee arranged on a table.

Cookies on a table: Cookies or bread smell good and refresh visitors.
No sellers around: Leave the premises — let buyers browse without you.
Feedback forms: Collect feedback and listen to it.

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22 Steps to Hosting the Perfect Open House