Open houses and Sundays go together like bread and butter.  It’s practically a given that homes all over communities nationwide will be spiffed up and opened up with noble, but often all too wishful intent for an instant on the spot sale.

Of course, while some open houses are planned exactly for the purpose of showing off a property to prospective buyers and the always inevitable nosy neighbor, some real estate agents use them as an opportunity to kick their networking into overdrive.  If you’re a homeowner who’s looking to get your home sold regardless of any awry agent’s indiscretion, here are 5 ways to increase leads behind the scene.

1.  Ask Your Agent – Don’t be afraid to be blunt.  Ask your agent if they plan on using your open house to network and try to find other customers who could be competition.  Now, if your agent is just being natural and helpful to the visitor’s needs, then there’s no problem – everyone’s best interests are in mind and fair is only fair.  But you certainly don’t want your showing agent to be pandering competing homes while using yours for bait.

2.  Bare It All – Yep, go ahead and tell your agent that you want every square inch of your home to be shown to the walkthroughs.  This will keep them in the house longer to discover the good points for themselves.  But please – if you’re going to follow this advice and show it all, be absolutely positive every single nook and crazy is clean, organized, and buyer friendly.  Also, be sure to lock up any valuables just in case.

3.  Cover the Clichés – You’ve heard all of the traditional advice on the best practices of showing a home – baking fresh cookies, putting away personal items, turning on all the lights, and so on.  Whether or not these tips actually work, you’ll certainly have nothing to lose by giving them a try!

4.  Make a Great Flyer – Many visitors to your home’s open house will be touring several others right before and after yours.  Make sure someone has prepared a top quality flyer or brochure with all the important details and a few photographs that best represent your home.  Potential buyers will find this helpful and it will also grant a second look at your house later on as they review the flyers from the day’s escapades.

5.  Don’t Interfere – You’ve hired an agent who’s hopefully passed your approval for their competence and trustworthiness.  Now let them handle the showing in their professional manner.  By this, I mean you must find somewhere else to go for the day.  No matter what, some viewers will have totally different tastes than you do and you’ll end up feeling insulted because of the differences.  Also, the agent is experienced with handling questions in the most beneficial way.  Homeowners, when present, tend to cause major interference at their open houses.

While these pointers might seem rather primitive or like they’re just basic common sense, it’s amazing how often they’re overlooked.  The home will ultimately have to help sell itself, however by creating the most pleasant experience for all involved, your leads will naturally increase.  Best of luck and Happy Open House Sunday!