Mar. 7, 2008 - Yes, Open Houses DO sell houses

Did you ever ask yourself how it can be that you meet people all the time that first saw the home they live in at an Open House.  Yet if you Google "Open Houses" you get story upon story of how Open Houses rarely, if ever, help to sell a house?

Did you ever ask yourself why you can't drive through any neighborhood on a Sunday between 1 and 4 without running into scads of Open House tent signs pointing to an Open House, if they don't work?

Mainly it's because Open Houses DO work for the owner who is selling the house but they DON'T work for the agent who is holding the house open.  Many people see a house at an Open House and then call their agent to buy it.  The same agents who will say Open Houses don't work, will be the same runs crying the blues that a buyer who came to an Open House bought the house...but not with the Open House agent.

Because often the agent holding the Open House is not the listing agent, you read many stories about how they are a "waste of time".  They are not a waste of time for the owner who is trying to sell the house...but often they are a waste of time for the agent who stands to gain nothing if both the seller and buyer have an agent...but the Open House agent is "none of the above."

Open Houses DO work, and often, for the seller.  Sometimes people go home after an Open House and can't get that house out of their mind.  They come back later with their own agent and buy it.

Mar. 14, 2008 - RE: Yes, Open Houses DO sell houses

I thought that your comments on Open House was very interesting.  I too am a Realtor as well as a recruiter and trainer and find that open houses are good for everyone, sellers, buyers, and Realtors.  OH are the perfect place to shop for a Realtor; you can find-out their style, personality and professionalism, as well as whether all these traits match your needs as a seller or buyer.  Many Realtors in our area (Bergen County, New Jersey) get clients by doing open houses, maybe it is a geographical thing.

Mar. 17, 2008 - RE: Yes, Open Houses DO sell houses

Good post.  Is every open house good for everybody?  Of course not.  I believe the effectiveness of open houses depend primarily upon two things; (1) how the agent prepares for and manages the open house, (2) the market. 

I have had seasons where open houses were a waste of time.  This past spring, my team sold three houses via the open house method in two weeks.  The market conditions were right for it at the time.

I don't think it should be anywhere near the primary marketing tool in a listing agents arsenal, but it should be in the arsenal.  You just never know where the buyer is going to come from.

Keep up the good work!

Mar. 21, 2008 - RE: Yes, Open Houses DO sell houses