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Open Houses. Do they work in your market?

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAXPrestige

It seems that when I do a listing presentation many sellers ask if I will hold open houses. I tell them that I will but I am honest with them when I tell them that it is rare for a house to sell because of an open house.

I think  lot of people watch HGTV where there are many shows that seem to put great store in open houses.

In this market they are rarely effective as far as selling the house is concerned, visitors are rare and so there are not many buyers to turn into future clients.

One of the problems is that some cities or subdivisions do not allow signs to be put out on the street which makes it difficult to advertise.

So, my question is, are open houses effective in your market?

What do you do to make your open house stand out ?

Do you have incentives to get people to come into the house?

Where do you advertise?

I would love to hear from agents from other parts of the country as well as those in North Texas.

 

Posted by

Sue Riley Realtor, GRI

Prudential Texas Properties

Serving Collin and Grayson Counties and surrounding area.

Offering great customer service for all of your real estate needs

Teresa Cox King
RE/MAX of Orange Beach - Orange Beach, AL
Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama
Sue- I was talking to a seller prospect today who asked that very question..."Do you hold open houses?"  I was honest with him and told him that the statistics are low for the buyer to come through the door at the open house.  Yes, I told him that I would conduct one within the first couple of weeks of the listing while the interest was high and periodically thereafter if we felt the need.  After saying that, we both shared the fact that each of us had indeed bought a former home after attending an open house on it.  In my area, agents have been holding more Realtor Opens than to the public.
May 25, 2007 02:41 PM
Jeannette Neerpat
CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL
e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate
I hosted an open house last weekend with a good turn out. I advertise here and my other sites I blog on. Sent emails to my SOI, and put up a open house saturday rider. That one actually bought someone back that saw it friday. I also thought open house were really meant to build client relationships instead of selling the house.
May 25, 2007 02:44 PM
Beth Bastian
Rosemont Financial Inc - Simi Valley, CA
Simi Valley Real Estate
I do find new prospects with open houses, but I have never sold the home I was holding the open house at.
May 25, 2007 03:06 PM
Dave Cheatham
INC Financial - Bartlett, IL
I see more and more people going to open houses again in the area. 
May 25, 2007 04:04 PM
Jeannette Neerpat
CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL
e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate
Well there are somany homes on the market. some buyers rather go to an open house to see what's avaliable before working with an agent. At least from my point of view.
May 26, 2007 12:18 AM