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THE BEST KIND OF OPEN HOUSES

NO TIME RESTRAINTS------NO PAID ADVERTISING

If you have a listing on a busy road, you can host an Open House whenever you have the time. Just put your sign up add some balloons and you are ready. The best part is you can stay any length of time that works for you: 1 hour, 30 minutes, 2 hours, you get to choose. Unlike paid advertising where the time is pre-set.

I personally like the "piggy back" Open House. Look for the Paid Open House ads in your local paper. Look for the homes close to your listing. You then can Piggy-back on their ad. This is the easiest: you do not have put up directional signs, your competition will do that for you. Just put the balloons up on your listing.

With this type of OPEN, there are NO TIME RESTRAINTS & NO PAID ADVERTISING!

I hosted one of these on Sunday. I did get a few customers. It was a rainy cool day. I left after 2 hours. I didn't even have to take down signs.

Posted by Janice Lipka on 06/05/2007 07:14 AM

Comments (21)

21 Comments on THE BEST KIND OF OPEN HOUSES

JUN

2007

Interesting idea, Janice! I hate doing 3-hour open houses anyway.

I took a 90 day listings once on vacant land (over priced in my opinion) but I took it because it was a major backroad with LOTS of activity! I sold the listing in less than 90 days and picked up 3 buyers just from my sign in front.

I do these occasionally. Even on a Thursday afternoon. It works great for the vacant listing in a busy area. Besides, I can work anyway so it is productive. Thanks for the post.

Janice,

I love when I get these kind of listings, piggy back off other agents open is also a very creative, money saving approach that works! Nice job :)

Good Morning Suzanne, I also like to save money. These work best with a vacant house. However, seller are usually receptive. I especially like the fact that I do not have to sit for 3/4 hours.

Hi Brian, These are the best type of Open Houses. You choose the amount of time to stay. That is what I like best.

Hi Katrina, The only time an over-priced homes is worthwhile is if it gets you sign advantage.Busy roads especially. Be careful that the for sale sign is not up too long, it could cause the public to think you can't sell the listing.

Good Morning Gary, We can work anywhere. Have lap-top will travel. Who knows, the listing might sell. It doesn't matter which day of week the listing is open.

Hi Cheryl, Active Rain is a great place to share and to receive Ideas. I am glad this post helped you. Good Luck with your Piggy-back Opens. Let me know how they are working for you.

I've done the piggy back thing a few times myself! Is it my imagination or is attendance at open houses getting even slower?

Bob Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc.

Great way to save time and money... I am sure we all like to do that. Working smarter not harder and staying in control. Gotta love the industry!

Hi Bob, Attendance is down here also. That is why I dislike the 3/4 hours sitting at an Open House. It the ad is not running, you are in control of the time spent.

Hi Donna, Saving money is a great thing to be able to do. This type of Open House also saves us time.

90% of my open houses are unadvertised. I try to do the ones that are 1 turn off of a major street, or even better bracketed by 2 major streets. I watch to see which way the prospects come in. I take my laptop, a good book, files. I may as well have the opportunity to talk to a prospect while doing my catchup.

Janice - Great Idea... I don't like scheduling Open Houses and only do them at the clients request. But you certainly have a given me a better alternative - thanks for sharing

Hi Jim, looks like you figured out the advantages of an unadvertised Open. This is the ONLY kind to hold.

Hi Phillip, This is the great advantage of Active Rain. We get to share some cost saving ideas. If you host one of these Open Houses, Let me know how it went.

JUN

2007

Janice

I notice this happens all the time and also happens with for sale by owners the are famous for piggy backing a good day to go view opens.

JUN

2007

That is a great idea! Some garage sales are good places to find FSBOS

Very good advice Janice, as I'm sitting in a house right now waiting on people to come by. I carry three to four "Agent on Duty" signs in the trunk and when I feel like sitting in a house I'll set them up. I'll have to start checking the paper for open houses and give your idea a try. The best part about this house is that there's a wireless modem around here somewhere and I can work on-line. I haven't sold a house that I'm sitting in yet, but have produced a few customers that I'm still in contact with

Hi Robert, The piggy back opens are the best. I like the fact that I do not have to put directional sign up. If it is a slow day, I can leave whenever I want. Good Luck!!!

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