We’re getting ready to sell our house in the spring (first time selling) and I’m looking for advice on managing open houses with kids. Should we book a hotel for the weekend? After the open house, we plan to pack up our trailer the following weekend. Is there a way to let MLS know we won’t have showings for those specific days? Can we block off certain times for showings? We’re moving cross-country, and while we hope to get offers quickly, we have family housing set up at our destination, so we’re not under a huge time crunch. We’re still finding a realtor, so any advice would be appreciated!
Open houses are usually just a few hours. Why not grab lunch and see a movie while it’s happening? Just let your realtor know your availability for showings.
Rethink blocking showings right after the open house. Some buyers might want a second look after seeing it during the open house.
Consider waiting to list until you’re out of the house. Blocking days right away could hurt your chances of offers. Homes get the most interest in the first couple of weeks.
Try to be flexible with showings. I’ve moved a lot, and during open houses, my family would hang out with friends or go to the park.
You can restrict showings to certain times. We only showed our house after 4 PM during the week, and it worked for us. For the open house, we took our kids out for fun while the house was shown.
We boarded our pets and made arrangements for our kids. Using a POD for packing helped too. You can block off times for showings, but flexibility can lead to more offers.
We stayed with my mom for a weekend during the open house. It made things easier!
Don’t refuse showings; most serious buyers come for private showings, not just open houses. Also, consider staging—an empty house can show flaws.