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If you advertise it, will they come? AN OPEN question to open houses! 12 great suggestions!

This is a VERY interesting topic, and came up with a REALTOR I spoke to JUST last night!! She is a 20 year Vet of the industry, and doesnt believe in OPEN HOUSES! Well, I DISAGREE! I have made alot of REALTOR contacts at them, customers that may not have bought that particular home, but still bought another one, and many great prospects and friends! We need to REVERSE this attitude! Also, and let me be loud and clear, saying something like, "well, that doesnt work in our area of the country" is ridiculous! Prosepcting is prospecting, no matter where you live!

I have LENT MONEY to people all over the United States in my 20 year career, and my biggest suggestion to everyone reading this is DONT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS! Do not pre-judge! Our JOB is to offer the product we provide or sell, and let the customer decide! "You cannot sell it, if it isnt offered!"

From a LENDERS perspective, here are my suggestions!

I would post it on the following websites for a start, not just the newspaper.

www.craigslist.com, but be careful..I have heard some nasty things latety from women that have been stalked on here after posting something!

Your company website

Your city or town website, for example: www.madison.com

All the newpapers electronic websites for local newspapers

Shopper stopper

Then: Here are my other specific ideas

1. Contact other REALTORS and make sure THEY KNOW about this! Talk to the TOP 10 producers in your area, and call them and send them an email!

2. Talk with your lender partner, and have THEM get an email campaign going with you! EZINE!!! SHARE perspective leads! "repitition is the mother of learning"

3. Get a renter list, and send invites to them. Have a calling nite to followup on the mailer.

4. Have a prize or give away at the open house..For example, get your lender partner to contribute half, towards a grill to be given away...Here's the rub: When people are sheepish about "signing in", this will allow you to "register them" for the grill, or nights stay, or whatever gift for your area would be COOL! Trick here is that whoever doesn't win, STILL gets a call to let them know by the lender, and you can work on selling them! THEN, if they finance with you, or work with you, let them know you will give them a NEW grill for the home anyway!

5. Get flags, banners, balloons, and make sure THIS PLACE stands out big time! Directionals from downtown to home as well!

6. Have nicer fliers than just a copy of the MLS! Do your own...OR, have your lender partner help you!

7. Get a Call Capture system in place! I wil be blogging on this! AWESOME!

8. Get this OPEN HOUSE on the chamber website, and post fliers in quick trips etc..with tear offs! Again, call capture system! As well as post them in all the laundromats, bowling alleys, etc...wherever there is a board, post it!

9. Have your lender partner print out fliers on payments etc...and KNOW exactly how much the taxes are, and even have an insurance agent get you a qoute from your "sphere of influence", so the borrower REALLY KNOWS how much the TOTAL payment will be!

10...HERE IS A BIG ONE: IF the home qualifies for USDA 100% Rural Housing Financing, PUT THIS IN THE MLS, AND FLIERS!!!!! Add your lender partners contact information! THAT WAY, they can also defer the OTHER CALLS BACK TO YOU AS A REALTOR! You need to trust them to give you this business back! More than anything, share a calling night, and share expenses!

11. Get a financing sign and phone # in the yard as well! www.rightpathmarketing.com

12. Attach a "bionic" yellow, orange, or green flier to all the Feature sheets in the box attached to your sign, announcing the open house!

Overall, you have to spend MONEY to make an open house work! More & More, I am seeing and hearing Realtors say that OPEN HOUSES dont work! Well, I can tell you why they dont...You simply cannot put an ad in the paper, and hope people show up! You have to work it, earn it, and deliver on it!

In addition, this SHOWS your seller you are serious, a professional, and more than anything that you are actually TRYING to sell their home!

These are just a few of my ideas, as I dont want to give them all away, unless I am working directly with someone!! :)

Perception is reality, and the reality is, we have to WORK for our sales! Lenders, and Realtors alike!

Here is another GREAT BLOG, by an excellent Rainer you should check out by Lisa Udy!

Great blog

Thanks for reading, and if you care to subscribe to my blog, you can do so by clicking on the icon below!

Darin
One Source Mortgage, LLC 608-592-2227

Darin@osmwi.com

Proudy Serving the ENTIRE State of Wisconsin since 2003!

Posted by Darin Osenberg on 05/28/2009 12:43 PM

Comments (82)

Open Houses, the New "Field of Dreams" in the Mortgage / Finance Channel

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82 Comments on If you advertise it, will they come? AN OPEN question to open houses! 12 great suggestions!

APR

A lot of great information... thanks for sharing.

Darin- Thanks for the 12 ideas. Ideas like yours are why social networking is so great.

Some grat and informative steps in preparing for a successful open house. Advertising is key when doing an open house.

great ideas! Thanks for the post.

APR

Tina- I love helping, I enjoy building relationships, and no way better than giving GREAT ideas, with not expectation of anything in return! Karma goes a long way! :)

Montana- I COMPLETELY agree! AR has been fantastic! I have learned ALOT from Realtors, and even other lenders! I am a human sponge, so I try to "pay it forward" as often as possible!

David- Couldnt agree more! I am liking more and more the "unconventional side" of advertising! Although, I am a little "old skool" LOL...I think we should ALL get back to the basics, and break our bad habits, and GET BACK to what was working and what got us here!

Karen- Thanks for leaving the comment! It is nice also to know that people not only are reading , but appreciating! Thanks!

D

D - I like the tips. This is one bit of marketing I haven't done in my eight years at this gig. I would hope you pass this blog onto all of your Realtor Contacts.

Good tips.

Realtors should be more pro-active about sitting down with their lender partners and brainstorming good ideas.

Financing clauses in MLS may be the sugar coating that your listing needs!!

Jason- I hope YOU will pass this on to YOUR realtor contacts too! LOL...thanks for the comment! I have 12 more...but they are even more driven towards a "secret" evil group! JK..>Thanks again!

Tom- I like getting comments from a person of your stature! Thanks! Actually, I had a REALTOR tell me it was againsts the rules to post financing deals in the MLS...So, i dis-regarded them, and contacted the Realtors Association, and found it wasnt true! Change is hard for some..i guess! Partnerships and doing things others DONT do are pretty important today! Thanks again Tom!

"I like getting comments from a person of your stature!" D, did you know Burris is only 4'2";)

Darin,

Thanks for your post, and contacting me to visit.

A very informative post.

I don't like opens and don't do them. That does not mean I do not believe they work. I have others do them for me because I take Sundays off- and Saturdays mind you.

Like Mike Brodie says. I do one a year to remind me how i hate them!

I might do my one this year in a beautiful new home on the Isthmus. My best listing of the year.

And I will make sure to follow many of your ideas.

APR

Hey there GUY! Thank you for the comments! Great job on the listing! WOW, that has to be a pretty sweet property!

You know, I didnt actually REALIZE how there is such a HUGE difference of opinion on open houses...It kinda caught me by surprise! My father was a realtor in Colorado for 18 years, and he barely had them as well! I think lender and REALTOR alike, have to work MUCH harder today than we did 4 years ago...not just to sell a property, but working with buyers etc....and partnering really has never been MORE important than right now! With all the changes, it is almost overwhelming to stay on top of them!

Good luck with YOUR open house! I appreciate the comments!

Best always,

APR

Hi Darin,

Thanks for the post. I do not love open houses, but I also have not implemented the many great ideas that you have shared. My buyers agent's only sale so far came from an open house.

Like anything, if you don't have the confidence that it works, it will come across.... Keep an open mind - all things are possible.

Thanks again Darin!

Diane- Thanks for leaving the comment! You know, as LENDERS, we need information more and more, from REALTORS on how WE can do OUR job better, more efficiently, and more customer "friendly"! Again, I think partnering is VERY important right now, and any time I can share ideas with someone, EVEN IF they are out of my lending range etc...I am going to do it! You know, KARMA is a big thing today! :) One of the biggies I mentioned, and I do have 12 others btw...is the Call Capture! that is huge! Def try that one!!!

Take care, and again , many thanks!

Darin

APR

Darin, Thank you for the info. I really belive that you are correct in saying that opens are a great opportunity. We were talking about this in a meeting on Fri. Opens may not sell the house that they are held in but do lead to other great opportunitys. I work for Shorewest in Watertown, and we have Wisconsin Mortgage. That being said you still can's have enough avenues for financing. Could you send me your info?

Thanks Again,

Eric Rosenow

erosenow@shoresest.com

920-285-9139

APR

Hey there Eric,

Thanks for the comments and WELCOME to AR. Eric, I also sent you a private email!

Here is another new post everyone may like!

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1042469/The-typical-lender-NEEDS-list-The-basic-items-a-lender-will-need-to-either-pre-qualify-pre-approve-or-APPROVE-your-loan

thanks everyone!

APR

Great ideas here. Thanks for sharing them. I have not done many open houses, think of them with a negative stimatism as far as success and this is a fresh perspective.

Hi there Heather!

Thank you for leaving a comment! You know it is funny, bad or good, COMMENTS are ALWAYS GOOD! Even when people dont agree, it is great for discussion! I am working on a new blog today that I hope you will also read tomorrow! Open houses years ago, used to be one of the primary ways a house even GOT sold! I have met some of my best realtor contacts at OH...and lifelong customers as well! I think the key to ANY type of advertising though, is a call capture system! I believe in them FIRMLY! It is getting Realtor/Lender alike to SPEND the money on them that is the TOUGH part! It should be shared!!! It is cheap, but more importantly, is a great way to Gauge your calls!! As well as retain the caller info!! ANyway, thanks again!!

Darin

MAY

Hello All I know is that after 21 years in the business at the most successful Real Estate company in the world, RE/MAX. I have never had a house sell at an open house. Yes, I agree it is a great way to meet potential buyers. So if you want to meet buyers I would highly recommend Open Houses. But if you want to get your listings sold....Open House is not the way to go, as many veteran realtors know .

Hi Susan- Well, not being a Realtor it is difficult for me to agree OR disagree with you! :)

I will say this..Recently I had a friend sell her house 60k under value. The Realtor didnt put out any effort whatsoever, and while I DO agree with you that it is a WAY to get buyers..>I think for your SELLER, this shows EFFORT as well...something TANGIBLE that they can see that you are doing!

Also, I think when a LENDER works WITH a REAltor Directly at an OPEN HOUSE, it is a great bonding time, and with unique strategic ideas, can maybe make the OPEN HOUSE work a little bit more for the seller too!

I think being acceptable to change, and going with newer innovative ideas, might inspire people to do MORE WITH an open house...Also, if used with CALL CAPTURE, and other progressive media means, it can REALLY BE EFFECTIVE for all sides of the transaction!

One thing I DONT KNOW...is how many buyers come thru the door that DONT already have a Buyer Agency agreement...If they dont , doesnt it make SENSE to TRY and get both side of the deal??

Call capture is something I WILL be bloggin on! Thanks VERY VERY MUCH for your comments! - Darin

Darin

I have used 7 of your 12 ideas for all my Open Houses. In my particular area, my attendance rate depends on just where the house is located, city versus country, etc.

In my area Open Houses are a necessary part of my business. This area has a population that is very much rooted in the past, print media, etc. It goes without saying that when I do a listing presentation the question is asked, "how many open houses will I get?"

Besides all the marketing ahead of time, staging for the actual day and dressing professionally, I work my Open Houses. That is to say, I actually engage people when they enter the home in a non threatening manner. Many realtors in my area fail to do this.

Of your 12 ideas I feel that the relationship with your lender is the best. I have a person that I have worked with for years and she comes with me most of the time. Not only does it address the fact that I am not alone, but she has become my right hand. When it gets busy with several people showing up at once, she pitches right in, gets them signed in and engages in conversation with them until I am available.

Your post has been most informative.

Jayne

Jayne- Would you like to write my blogs for me from now on??? LOL GREAT TESTAMENT HERE! THANK YOU! I have been stressing the RELATIONSHIP issue for years, and guess what...IT WORKS! SOme of my best contacts AND customers that I have TO THIS DAY i met at open houses!

I have another 12 ideas coming in a couple weeks, I hope you will watch for them! THey are cool!!! :)

Thanks again..and I AM VERY GLAD they work for you! I hope I have helped too!! Your pal- Bucky/Darin :)

Great ideas for open houses. I haven't sold a home by holding an open house. I haven't obtained a buyer by holding an open house. But I have obtain a listing and referrals from holding open houses. It is just another opportunity for us to be out and about in the community to have a conversation about real estate. You never know when opportunity is going to knock for us. I personally invite all the neighbors to my open houses and I always have a nice turn out.

Darin,

I particularly like #4, folks are so hesitant about giving out thier emails and a little incentive is just the ticket. Craigslist is also really big in our area and I use it extensively. Same is true for my Facebook page and blog.

If you throw enough out there, something is going to stick!

Michael

I like your enthusiasm about doing open houses. However, you, as a mortgage broker can visit as many OH's to meet agents. We are better prospects for you than people just walking into an open house and being turned into our client.

I would like to share this with you-most people who come into an open house are not qualified to buy the property they visit, or have not been pre-qualified before they even go out. Most people come in because they just want to see what the house looks like. Over 90% of the buyers come because of signage on the street, not from ads.

In Toronto we do not have Mortgage specialists sit open houses with the agent.

Hi Michelle- Wow, ADDITIONALLY great suggestions! I TOTALLY AGREE! I have a button that says I SELL MONEY! I never KNOW when I am going to be able to sell it!

Great job on the JOB that you do! Bill Sparkman, my mentor said, "I use the phrase "everyday prospecting" loosely, even though very few loan agents prospect or market themselves, everyday. Fewer than twenty percent of all your competitors spend more than one hour per day in real live selling situations - PROSPECTING or MARKETING themselves for the purpose of generating loan business. Great loan agents spend more time prospecting and marketing themselves than average loan agents, PERIOD!"

This doesnt just apply to loan people, but REALTORS AS WELL! Open houses show a desire to sell, and is ONE MORE prosepcting tool! I mean come on, 1 open house a month for 2 hours?? I bet you waste 2 hours at home in front of the TV, or even DURING the month at work....how can 2 hours at an open house hurt anybody??

Thank you VERY MUCH for sharing! - Darin

Micheal- You know, I think the progressive people in today's market that ARE LEFT....BOTH REALTORS & LENDERS ...and I HATE THIS CATCH PHRASE>>>BUT IT IS TRUE....

HAVE TO CONTINUE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!

Call capture is something you should tt your Lender Partner about, and would be a great addition to what you are doing already!

Thanks so much! - Darin

Diane- GREAT TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE FROM TORONTO! I LOVE TORONTO!

That said...I TRULY APPRECIATE your perspective and comments! You see, I understood a LONG TIME AGO...that I finance homes, and Realtors help buyers/sellers...buy & sell them! I understand relationship building, and if sitting at an open house for 2 hours 1x per month with you is one part of building that relationship, that is WHAT I AM GOING TO DO!

I only work with 7 total agents...and that's it! That's enough really...If you are working together, and servicing each others professional needs to help be mutually successful, then anymore just gets in the way!

YOU HIT ONE BIG NAIL ON THE HEAD IN YOUR COMMENT BTW- WE NEED to get to buyers FIRST! THEN, we can get them prequalified either before the open house, or have me come up there and prequalify AT THE OPEN HOUSE! I can pull credit from a laptop!

AGAIN THOUGH, you would have to trust my 20 year veteran opinion...someone new to the business would struggle in this capactiy!

Thanks so much!

Darin

I sure will give this a try, again. Last one I did was all by myself.

Thanks for these great tips.

These are all great ideas.....I have "challenges" with many of them since we sell alot of condominiums. You can't deliver things to the other residents in the building. You are limited on how many signs you can put out as well. But I love all the ideas, and as I get into more Single Family homes, I will remember these. Bookmarked!

Great Blog!! I have done some of the mentioned ideas here. My agree.. if you are going host an open house, do it right. Invite and they will come!!!

Darin,

Thanks for the great ideas. Many creative ways to spark interest in obtaining future buyers...if not for this property maybe others! Wonderful, creative and ingenious ideas.

Thanks for sharing!

Nice marketing approach. Yes there is a need to prospect with the lender together.

MAY

Darin. I love the call capture feature. Prospecting in your sleep!

Hey Buck....sales is..oh surprise...a numbers game....and if one of those numbers....reads the internet, sees your sign....hears from a neighbor....drives past....and comes in....he/she has exposure to the home, to the realtor (I have also gotten listings this way) and in the case of Short sales...it is an educational forum as well. To my mind, agents who don't believe in them are too lazy to do them....

Hi Darin! Okay, I do like you're attitude. I was reading the other Open House blogs and getting really negative about all the open houses I've had that weren't soul fulfilling. I'm inspired by your marketing ideas. I'm going to copy/paste them into a file so I can pull them out when the time comes and revamp my attiude. Working with a lender/partner is a great idea and a way not to carry all the weight. Some of your other ideas are fantastic too and may really generate "buyers" and not just looky-loos. Good blog and thanks for sharing!

Okay, now I want to know the other secrets you're not sharing with everyone. Can't you email me privately? I'm all the way in a little rural town in Southwest New Mexico and not a threat - LOL!

Your hilarious! The words you used sum it up 'from a lenders perspective .....'

I wish I had a lender like you to partner with! I love idea #4, plus all were good to use one time or another. Thanks!

Aaron- Good luck on your next Open House! I like the attitude that have you in regards to PERSISTENCE! That is VERY important! I truly think it helps your SELLER feel better too! You need a LENDER PARTNER!!! LOL....wish I could help! LMK if you need a suggestion tho, as I KNOW some FANTASTIC ONES here on AR!

Thanks! Bucky/Darin

All very good ideas. An open house is more than throwing the doors open to see who comes.

Thom- Nice to hear from you! Here in the Madison Wisconsin area, we TOO have a large CONDO contingency...so I hear your PAIN!..oh, I meant feel it! :) There are SOO Many other issues with CONDO's today, it is amazing to me that with the INCREASED difficulty of the actual FINANCING of condo's, that Associations havn't become more LENIENT towards Realtors, and their subsequent MARKETING of the condo's! Here is another blog Thom that I did just on Condo Financing you might enjoy! Click HERE to go to it!

Thanks as always for commenting! It is greatly appreciated! Darin

BC- Thank you for such nice compliments! I have FOUND active rain a great place to SHARE ideas...rather than take the attitude of being a "MOTHER BEAR PROTECTING HER CUBS!"..

Oh, and Love the CUBS! :) Thanks so much! Watch for my next one, which will be 12 MORE great ideas! Take care...D

Mike- Isnt 303 area code Colorado?? ..:) I wish I was your lender partner...because I LOVE working with people that have YOUR attitude! Even if someone on AR is IN LENDING, I still share ideas...good & bad! I just saw another blog yesterday from somone that stated that WE ALL PROJECT our industry as a whole..so when we are talking/sharing, or marketing ourselves..we should keep that in mind! OPEN HOUSES is a GREAT WAY to portray our industry in an extremely POSITIVE light!! Thanks so much for sharing! Darin

Mark- Watch for my new blog by the weekend on Call Capture! I am working with a company now to get EVERYONE ON AR a smokin deal if they sign up! I have to tt Brad about it yet...but hopefully the BLOG will be a way to take the "temperature" of people interested! I LOVE THE PROGRAM and have great ideas to SHARE on ways to TRULY make it work! Thank you for your support! Darin

Sally & David, BRAVOOOO! It is nice to hear from Prominent REALTORS that they AGREE with a lender! WOOHOOOO......"this is the start of a beautiful relationship"...dont ya think?? I mean come on... Working together is soo BASIC of an idea...and it has made me VERY DISAPPOINTED & SURPRISED that many of the people who have commented, emailed and called me, DO NOT HAVE A LENDER PARTNER! Today, MORE THAN EVER, a REALTOR needs a lender partner and visa versa! Key element here is this tho:

THE LENDER HAS TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE REALTORS!!!!!! I give my business partners deals on a DAILY basis! When they come in, they go out! Like Lenn Harley has said though, and MANY others...the trust must be built! What better way to get to know someone, that sitting at an open house with nobody coming through it! THAT WAY, you can brainstorm better ways to host them in the future!

Social networking, internet...all of it! Thanks as always, and I am proud to be getting to know you guys, and hope that moving forward that the bond will become stronger...and we can work together on a daily basis! You guys are fantastic~! Oh, and have 14 offers on 17 listings that you have...tells the tale to other Realtors that have listings and no buyers!!

MARKETING & MARKETING are the only two M&M's you should be eating today!! :)

D

Blake- I am not a Realtor, just a mere 20 veteran of the mtg industry..so a threat?? NAHHH...im a TEAM MATE!!! I am merely a guy with a big heart, big ideas, and LOVE helping others succeed! I have honestly considered going into the TRAINING circuit, but still at a crossroads on that! Or, maybe I will go to Mascot School! LOL

Anyway, man, I would love work with you!!! Your attitude is infectious! I would actually LOOK ON AR, or POST that you are looking for a LENDER partner in your area! You might want to go the route of a Mortgage Banker tho...as they will have MUCH more latitude than a Wells Fargo Mortgage Specialist, or anyone at a BANK BANK!...They will also have much LESS red tape to go through in offering a prize etc...I just spoke to a friend of mine who said she was given a $10.00 Lowes CARD JUST FOR ATTENDING an open house! EVERYONE got them who came in! Cheap, fast, and a GREAT WAY to get their address & phone# ...PLUS, they are either exsiting homeowners, or will be !! Hello! Prospecting right!!

Keep up the fight, and YOUR ATTITUDE towards learning! That is very important, and shows me that you truly WANT TO BE successful!!!

Thanks so much for the kind words, and I will send you an email yes..! :) Oh, and my next 12 ideas will be out over the weekend!!!

D

Great information - thanks for sharing.

I agree - Open Houses can generate a lot of business.

Lyn- Always nice to see your comments! I LOVE SCHAUMBURG btw! Remember the FLYERS???

ANyway, i try to be funny & Serious at the same time! I am very passionate, and LOVE what I do...That said, I also love working WITH PEOPLE ON AR, and others...that WANT TO LEARN from each other...and "roll with the changes", as REO Speedwagon says! Be willing to accept change, DOES apply to OPEN HOUSES too! Being creative, I BELIEVE is the key to making them work!!

Keep Selling! Darin

Dana- Today, you paid me one the best COMPLIMENTS I have received on Active Rain...For that, I deeply thank you!! THANK YOU!! It truly is all about attitude, thinking outside of the box, being creative, as well as expressing or SHOWING THAT postive attitude to the prospects and clients!

One of the ongoing arguements here on Active Rain, involves if we are writing these blogs for our peers, or for consumers! I think we should be writing these for everyone!!! That said, showing a displeasure or negative attitude regarding a sales technique, does not make sense! I am always careful, or try to be...to consider my audience!

AN open house is just ONE MORE AUDIENCE..ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY...one more prospecting tool!

Thank you very much, and visit often...You can subscribe here if you wish!

KEEP SELLING!!!!

D

We are firm believers in Open Houses and they work for us, BUT you have to put in the work for them to work! Traffic will not come in with 2 signs and an ad in the local newspaper. We do many of the things from your list and then some. It takes us about 4-8 hrs to set up for the open houses including printing material, putting together packets, marketing them, putting out signs (which we have 30+, that takes a lot of time) etc. We frequently have a lender present and if not possible at minimum we have sheets of loan information etc. It all works. We have sold a few houses as a direct result of an open house, we have picked up buyers and sellers as well. It goes beyond just open house, it's the presence. Last weekend we had an open house tied in with a community garage sale and that place was packed! The only place I advertised was on Trulia (on the listing details). I didn't have time to put it elsewhere I was so busy.

I could write about this for hours - lol. But I'll just add one more thing. When we get in the numbers we do, this is valuable information for the sellers. (e.g. if many prospective buyers complain/mention the same thing e.g. price is too high, backyard needs work...)

Rita

Gene- ALWAYS nice to see your comments! YOU HIT IT!!! It is amazing to me, how many times people think that if they put an AD in the paper and there open house will be flooded with customers..or just a sign! Consider the Call capture system! Really! If it doesnt pay for itself in 90 days, you can get rid of it! BUT, it will! Watch for my BLOG on it!

Thanks for sharing! Darin

Mike- THANK YOU for commenting! I love aharing MY experiences, and I LOVE LEARNING from others! I just know that EVERY seminar I GO TO...I learn stuff I can apply to an OPEN HOUSE!!! Why not share them with great people like you on AR!>>>??? Thanks again!

Btw- Bought my very first home with C21 ! Good experience!

D

RITA!!! You get my famous....

I am NOT being sarcastic! NICE JOB! You sound like you are implementing alot of great ideas...and keep it up! I think once we form "good habits" we tend to stick by them....it is when things slow down WE MUST SLOW DOWN...take a look back, and then see what we are FORGETTING TO DO! Often times, that is where the problem lay!

By the weekend, I will be posting my next 12! Maybe, some of those will ALSO be ones that you also practice...However, email me ...and I would love to use MORE of your ideas as well! I think things that are working in your market, will truly work EVERYWHERE if the right attitude is applied!

NICE JOB! Thanks!! Darin

Oh, and BTW, your last part of your comment...was GREAT! HELLO!
THis is a great way to figure out from CUSTOMERS perspectives, what IMPROVMENTS<CHANGES...etc...NEED TO BE DONE TO GET THE HOUSE SOLD!! Great one!

Wow! If you're going to do an Open House, using your 12 steps is the way to go. Common sense, yet great business ideas! Thank you for this post!

Bonnie- Thank YOU for the comment!!!! COMMON SENSE is CORRECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know, it never hurts to repeat them does it??? THANKS AGAIN for sharing! I appreciate it@ Darin

Darin - :) Thanks. We bust our behinds for these open houses (and elsewhere. Right now I am making our own flags (for branding) to put on the driveway of the open house! As soon as we implement something, we come up with more LOL. ~Rita

Rita, that is AWESOME! GREAT IDEA! Send me a pic to Darin@osmwi.com would you please when you have them done??? Thanks !!!

Here is a good website to check out too! www.rightpathmarketing.com

Excellent reminder that even with open houses, financing sells homes. Open houses will go smoother with the assistance from a professional mortgage consultant.

Hey there Integrity! Yepper! I think Rita's comments too, show that having RATE SHEETS there, as well as the "possiblity" of having a LENDER THERE< and one that could pull CREDIT, are REALLY important! Nice to hear from a lender! Thanks again! Darin

Will do (send pics) and will go check out the site :) ~Rita BTW Subscribed, we need a lender like you here too!

Muchas Gracias Senora!! Rita, thanks alot! I subscribed too! ...thanks for the ultimate compliment!

Bucky...er....Darin

Oh yeah, my mascot school blog was a hit!! It is funny! THX Again!

you can also post ads to craigslist, backpage and kijiji

you can use postlets for the template and change the header to OPEN HOUSE

you can also post ads to craigslist, backpage and kijiji

you can use postlets for the template and change the header to OPEN HOUSE

sweet! Thank you Billie! I will add that to the followup blog !! I appreciate the input!

Thanks for sharing!

D

Darin, very nice post. For agents that do open houses, using some of your great tips could certainly help them maximize their efforts. Sticking a few signs around the neighborhood and sitting at the home for a couple of hours waiting for something to happen doesn't cut it.

Dan & Amy- Well, as you can see, there are VARYING opinions about Open Houses. My guess is, and this is after 20 years of working with Realtors, and MY FATHER BEING A REALTOR in Colorado for 18 years...that when they DONT work...the people have NOT put in the effort to MAKE THEM WORK! I have REALLY appreciated the comments thus far, and you can sure TELL who is making a living selling Realestate and doing loans...and the ones who are not!

I think we make our own luck. We do this by seizing opportunites and running with them...No matter WHAT WAY you slice an open house......it still comes up peanuts! In other words, how can something negative come out of it??? the answer...there cannot be! We are what we put in!

Take care, and many thanks!

D

Wow, I sold a house this weekend at an open house and I balked when the sellers asked me to do it. I am now eating crow! Thanks for the suggestions

Gina,

here's some crow for ya! :) NOTE TO ALL OTHER COMMENTORS! thanks for sharing! GOOD NEWS!

Great! ideas for making open houses more beneficial to the public and realtors that say they don't do them.In todays market consumers are looking for answers to many questions when looking for homes and an open house is a convenient place to ask those questions.Realtors who leave open houses out of their arsenal need to rethink!; they are a good prospecting tool. On a sunny Sunday afternoon I had 20 potential prospects come through of which 2 became actual clients, so it just depends on how you go about it.

thanks, AL

Hey there Al!

Ill bet you if you worked with a LENDER partner, you could turn that 2 out of 20, to 10 out of 20!

I have a neat blog coming out tomorrow, and I also have 12 MORE suggestions for open houses, coming out this Weekend! Watch for them! If you are interested, you can subscribe to my blog!

Thanks SO Much for commenting, and welcome to Active Rain! Start blogging!@ The google juice is awesome!

20 people at an open house btw....IS STELLAR! Way to go~!

Darin

MAY

Darin - this is a terrific list of hints to host a better open house.

... I dont do half those things, but I am bookmarking so that I can research doing more of them from now on !

Some really great ideas !

Cheers !

Sheldon

Hey there Sheldon! Thanks SO much for stopping by!- I have always noticed your comments, and appreciate your taking the time. That said, I have another 12 coming out over the weekend!

A long time ago a manager of mine told me two things...that have stuck with me for 21 years...!

1. Repetition is the mother of learning

2. Dont let the door hit ya, where the good Lord Split ya!

Both apply to marketing really....and basically, if you repeat the steps alot...often, and continue to do so..you WILL succeed! if not, get out...and move on to something else!

Take care, and thanks again!

D

MAY

Darin: Love your plan! We do many of the things you've suggested. Love number four, got to find a way to get that done.

JUN

Carrie & Kathy- THANK YOU so much for your wonderful comments, and I am VERY happy you got something out of my time! I really am! It is AWESOME that you already employ some of these!

To ADD to #4, you can also purchase a GROCERY SHOPPING SPREE or GAS CARD now for up to $500.00! The cost is cheap if you buy a bunch..I think around $10.00 to $15.00 each!

Lmk, and Ill send you the website link! ALSO, very important..>In a few minutes, I am posting my 2nd 12 suggestions! Check it out! There are a couple of COOL ones on there too!

Darin

JUN

I'm a stager... So naturally as I have read these comments, I can't help but notice that NO WHERE does anyone talk about how the property looks !!!.. You can have all the wonderful marketing and promotions ( free hot dogs for life !) but if you get a potential buyer driving by and he is not immediately impressed by the property from the CURB,, he will just keep going.. ( bye bye sale!)

If the home is looking inviting from the street, you have won the first battle. Next step is keeping that positive first impression going once they walk through the door... ( I am often stunned at the lack of awareness of how vital staging is !!!... And some of the awful pix that are published on the MLS,, !,, Well, 'nuf said..)

EMOTIONS play a huge role in home sales. The hard truth (and work) of the financing is not where a sale begins IMO.... They have to love what they SEE first !

Anne Vigneri,,, www.casavero.com

Anne- You know, when I did this...I ASSUMED that Realtors, and sellers, as well as OTHER business partners would ALREADY understand what you brought up in the comments..>THerefore, I didnt mention it...I just did my 2nd 12 suggestions, and I didnt REALLY mention it there either...except for front porches!

I find it funny ...ironic funny, not Joe Pesci funny... that Realtors talk about SELLERS needing professionals to handle the sale of their home...and LENDERS talking to Realtors about them needing a PROFESSIONAL to handle the financing, but RARELY have I seen ANYONE mention the importance of a stager, unless the house sells in 23 days! THEN, they are the best thing!@

Great points, and THANK YOU!

Darin

JUN

thanks - I am trying to do an "exceptional" open house (want 100-200 people to come). So great to read blog and all comments, altho I didn't get any ideas, I am still working on it.

Hello Anonymous! Here is a link to the OTHER 12 suggestions I just did!@ Hopefully you will find ONE IN THERE that you can use! :) Thanks

Darin

Click here

JUN

Thanks for replying to my post on 3 Reasons NEVER HOLD AN OPEN HOUSE.

It's the same old story. If you believe something strong enough, odds are it may become a reality in time. Thus, those that don't or refuse to believe that open houses will not be successful are correct.....for them. It is such a simple mindset. Heck I don't believe in door knocking, though I know it works. That's my little problem, thus I do not door knock; thus I do not get leads from door knocking.

Sale on........

Tim- You are absolutely RIGHT ON! ....the old adage of giving it 110% is correct...isn't it?? I LOVE working open houses WITH my Realtor parnters! It gives us time to work on marketing TOGETHER if noone shows up! My close friend said it best....the neighbors WOULD come by to the open house, because they have a vested interest in HER house selling! They dont want empty houses sitting all up and down the street! They also KNOW PEOPLE that might be looking!!! :) It is all in your attitude!
Thanks for allowing me to link!! - Buckster!

OCT

Great information... Thank you for sharing!

Hey Robert..

you are WELCOME! You know, it is amazing to me how many people think open houses are not a good thing!

I am ALWAYS hoping to help..but there are SOME new tricks that are hard to teach!

I am glad you were interested enough to read! Thank you!

Darin

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