Ar_home_b_search
 

WHAM! I must have had 70-80 groups of people who came through my open house this past Sunday. So I did an impromptu survey to ask them how they heard about the open house.

ONLINE MARKETING RULES!

The numbers validate why it's so important to get your listing online: 

80-85% said they saw my listing on the internet  Some were sent by their agents. And the rest are curious neighbors.

Pictures. Videos. When I asked why they picked this particular house to visit, all of them said they liked the pictures. Others said they liked the fact that there was a YouTube video (created from my visualtour) so they have an even better idea of what to expect. It works!

Details about the open house. Many said they came because the information said that there would be a Sunday open house. Aahhh....that's also very important to put in the MLS, etc. when the first open house will be. It isn't enough just to put details about the house.

Signs. A few staggered in when they saw my signs --- signs that had fluttering metallic ribbons, and placed in strategic locations where the western sun will shine on them (my signs are hardly ever in the shade, or blocked by parked cars)

Other positive feedback.

  • They liked how clean the house looks and smells. the importance of cleaning, decluttering! 
  • They liked how the house is staged. Even the most minimalist staging can make a difference in ambience
  • Handouts. I had local maps, copies of the local magazine, copies of my latest REALTYTIMES newsletter, and my magnetic memo board with my name/number on it. People like handouts!

 

MARATHON

It wasn't easy getting this all done in a very short time. It was like a marathon week --- getting professional housecleaners, bringing in my own staging stuff, taking a lot of pictures, creating a visual tour, converting to video, posting on a lot of sites, creating a brochure, preparing all the handouts, etc.

 

OFFERS!

But now, I have five offers in hand, and more expected before the week is over. Not bad...for a SHORT SALE!

 

RELATED POSTS

What I did to get 70-80 groups to come to my open house

You must be on YouTube! How to do with what you have now

Convert Visual tour to Video then post on YouTube and Facebook

10 things to do when posting on craigslist

 

 
This post has been included in California Real Estate News Alameda County, CA Real Estate News Alameda, CA Real Estate News
Post is included in group: Dedicated Bloggers
Post is included in group: Diary of a Realtor
Post is included in group: Open Houses
Post is included in group: The Art Of Marketing You
Post is included in group: The Optimist

17 Comments on 70-80 groups (again) at first open house! And I owe it to the internet

AUG
25
2009
385,218 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

WHAM!!! Nicely done.  If I had a home to list in Alemeda... U B D 1

 
2:41am • #1
681,157 Points 130 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

That's great.....but our MLS doesn't allow us to put open house information in the public comments. Which is too bad.I suppose it's for protection, but it limits us on Zillow and Trulia.
3:39am • #2
524,717 Points 2 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Pacita,

Wow that is an incredible number of people.  How did you manage to keep up with everyone?
6:38am • #3
269,732 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Pacita - Open houses in our area have very little traffic. However, building the anticipation (like you do) seems to bring excellent results. Great job.
6:52am • #4

Patricia... You go girl!  Do you have any type of coaching?  These are all items my R.E. coach has been working with me on.  So pleased to hear it works!!
9:50am • #5
123,278 Points 1 Featured Post

Pacita~ How awesome for you! Thanks for the tips. I also had an open house on Sunday and had a whopping 8 people come through, and thought I was doing great! Sometimes we are lucky here to get 1 or 2.
10:20am • #6
658,207 Points 44 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Called Shot Master

Pacita, You had quite the successful Open House! Congratulations! Did you get a buyer?
10:29am • #7
165,704 Points 6 Featured Posts

Pacita-This is wonderful. Congrats on that. Open houses are a mixed bag here but I will try these tips. Thanks. :-)
10:42am • #8
461,907 Points 47 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Bill --- In Alameda, it seems we always get good traffic. The island is so small you can squeeze in a lot of properties to see in 2 hours.

Karen --- on REALTOR.com, you have the option to enter your open house information. And since REALTOR.com is the most often used resource that is picked up by other websites, this is the best place to post your open house. PLUS, if you subscribed to the Showcase service, you can make the change on your headline, etc.

Richard --- I positioned myself between the living and dining rooms, with full view of the front door, so I saw everyone coming and going. And whenever I answered questions, a lot of them seemed to hang around to hear what I was saying.

Judy --- real estate really is local. We always get good traffic especially the first few times we hold an open house for a new listing in a good location. This is not the first time this happened to my listings. We are blessed in a way because a lot of people want to move here.

Sabrina --- Besides subscribing to the Brian Buffini Working by Referral program, my best coaches are the folks who share good information on Active Rain.

Jan --- I've held an open house when only 1 person came through. That's when I know that it won't work, so I concentrate on the ones that do generate traffic.

Wanda --- Yes, I picked up two buyers for sure, for whom I am going to write offers.... and need to follow up with the others. As for this house, there are 5 offers on the table, and more are coming.

Pat --- open houses has always been a good resource for me to be able to showcase what I can do for sellers, and to also pick up new clients. At least 15% of my business comes from open house leads.

 

 

 
11:31am • #9
563,199 Points 24 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Pacita:  Awesome Job!  There is so much that goes into preparing a home to market. You have all the bases covered and are a shinning example of a true professional!!!
12:19pm • #10
AUG
26
2009
801,306 Points 35 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Outstanding....tooo mnay people think the marketing of a short sale stops when the listing contract is signed...u go girl !
7:09am • #11
AUG
27
2009
140,675 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

Wow!  That's amazing, Pacita.  But you obviously worked your tail off and did all the right things to make it work so well.  You're an inspiration on how these things SHOULD be done!

Mike
7:47am • #12
461,907 Points 47 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Kathleen --- that's why it's important to include in our listing presentation all the things that we do. Hopefully, people will recognize what a difference a good realtor makes.

Sally & David --- in a short sale, the owners want the property sold quickly. And so do we. So we should do all we can to make it happen.

Mike --- since being a realtor is now my chosen career, I apply what my dad has always taught us: do more than what is expected.
11:22am • #13
SEP
07
2009
539,385 Points

Pacita,

   I hope you make a sale from all the folks that toured your open house.  I don't think I have ever had that many at my open houses.

Connie Lou
11:50am • #14
461,907 Points 47 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Connie --- I picked up one very active prospect to whom I am already showing houses, and two more who are getting preapproved after I told them that's the first step before they look.

 
12:14pm • #15
MAR
02
2010

Wow!  That is amazing!  I will have to try some of your tips.
8:59am • #16
APR
11
2010
101,432 Points

Pacita,

Great Post.  Thanks for sharing,

Matt Naumann
8:37am • #17

This blog does not allow anonymous comments
 

Find CA real estate agents and Oakland real estate on ActiveRain.