Holding an open house is one of the most effective sales tools available to sell your home. Open houses allow you the opportunity to get buyers interested in the home. These buyers can browse through the home and ask you questions while on site. Open houses allow you the opportunity to let your home shine like a star. There are a few keys to holding a successful open house event.

1. Location – Probably the number one factor that make open houses successful is the one thing you have no control over. Homes located in undesirable neighborhoods or in rural areas do not work well with open houses. It is hard to get enough prospective buyers together to make the event a success. Successful events need a steady stream of foot traffic to peak interest and to create a buzz about the property around town. Great areas for open houses are highly desirable neighborhoods in cities, towns and suburbs with lots of buyer traffic.

2. Repairs – Make any needed repairs before the open house is scheduled to take place. Make sure the items are fixed right initially. Don’t just cover them up with paint hoping that your buyers won’t find them. The home inspector will likely find them during the home inspection, so just do it right the first time and make a good impression on the buyer.

3. Spring Clean – Give the interior a through cleaning. Make sure any clutter is removed. Wash all the curtains, shampoo the carpet, polish the wood floors, and dust all the furniture. Be sure the kitchen and bathrooms are really clean. A dirty kitchen or bathroom is one of the number one reasons buyers decide not to purchase a home. It is also a good idea to consider staging the home. This can be done yourself or by hiring a professional stager. If your furniture is old, consider having it moved to storage and replacing it with new furniture.

4. Clean Exterior – Add some nice potted plants or hanging basket plants around the entry of the home. Get the grass mowed, shrubbery trimmed, and fresh straw or mulch added to the flower beds.

5. Flyers – Have some flyers designed with 5-10 photos of the home and all the relevant information about the home including your contact information.

6. Free Food – Free food is a big draw, especially come 4 o’clock and buyers have been out looking all afternoon. Having warm cookies or brownies made fill the home with great smells of baked goodies. If the weather is warm, plan a cookout with hamburgers and hot dogs in the front yard.

7. Sign in – Have a sign-in sheet to get the buyers information for follow-up phone calls or thank you notes. Offer a free drawing as an incentive.

8. Advertise – Hand out flyers to all the neighbors about the event, put out signs at major intersections, and run ads in the local paper.

Hubert Miles is the founder of Waterfront Houses USA, an online marketing service that offers River Properties and River Property For Sale in the US and Canada.