I don't think any effort we ever put out to either sell the home or network is wasted. It's always a good thing just to be trying to make things happen. It keeps everyone moving in a positive direction.

It's always interesting to see how the press can skew our profession. I think when they don't have any news for the day, they decide to pick on Realtors!

Kent: Although the market was much better in the year 2005, I sold 4 houses where I was holding an open house. It also helps to have a lender who works on Sunday also.

Kent,

I certainly agree that in many areas the primary purpose of an open house is for the realtor to pick up potential clients but it most definitely serves a purpose for the seller.  I agree that the 2-4% just doesn't seem accurate but my guess is that they're not including buyers that already knew of the listing from the realtor, MLS, etc and are talking only of true walk ins.  When I'm holding my own listings open and can't show my buyer clients, I alway check to see if there's an open house and send them off for a look.  How can having an open house be a bad thing when all it takes is the right person to walk through?

Hey I've hosted open houses and a few days later gotten a call from one of the attendees that they want to write an offer...so you never know.

Wow, should I let MSN know how wrong they are about EVERYTHING they write about.  ha ha  I've sold houses from open houses, and I get a ton of buyers.  What are we doing this for?  To sell houses and get buyers.

I think as a listing agent that you should have a comprehensive marketing plan and try to reach as many potential buyers as possible.  I don't think you should put all your eggs in one basket, and that you have a duty to your clients to do a variety of things to help showcase their home and that open houses should be one of them.  However, I feel they should be done conservatively.  I don't believe in holding the house open weekend after weekend.  When you do this, it can make the house seem stale or undesirable.  You should plan it out and know what's going on in the community and schedule it when you may have the best traffic and that's not necessarily from 1-4 on Sunday.  I have lots of other ideas on open houses and will save them for one of my own blog posts. 

I do think it is valuable to the Realtor and the Seller.  I will, say, however, that if open houses sold homes, then FSBO's would be able to just hold one and wouldn't need us, but we all know it's not that easy and those FSBO's usually find that out after weeks of those open houses. 

I have sold a few of my listings from the actual open house, and I have picked up many clients as well, so it does help both the Realtor and Seller and I really don't see a problem with that. I am honest with my clients and let them know what their expectation of an open house should be and that it is to showcase their home, let the neighbors become familiar (and have them spread the word about the home), and to hopefully find that 1 buyer we are looking for.  They understand it may or may not produce that 1 buyer, but we will try. 

Kim Darling

I don't do a lot of open houses, usually one per listing, but you never know - for each listing, you just need ONE buyer - maybe he/she will walk in the door.

I think open houses work. Well, at least for me they have.  These writers just like the controversy.

I do hold open houses on Sundays, typically.  This past weekend I had a family stop by my open house.  They were driving by and had seen the sign.  Ended up they are great prospects for this property.  Yes, I may pick up some clients, but my main concern is getting people into the house who might not be working with an agent or who have enough interest themselves to want to see the inside.  Bottom line is I want to sell the house.  Open houses are just one tool among many...

Open houses are a very expensive social networking hobby. 

In all the time since I've had my license back in the '80's, I've never seen an open house get sold from the event.

LOL @ Barry's first comment at the top of the list...too funny!!

Most marketers will tell you that 2 to 4 percent would be a great rate of response to any marketing or direct mail campaign.

So why is this a bad thing in real estate?

I tend to do pretty well at open houses, and even if I don't double end them, I sometimes find that it gives buyers with an agent the opportunity to see the house when they might not have otherwise.

Kent - I read this or a similar article.  It assumes that agents hold open houses only for their benefit and not for the benefit of the owner.  In reality, we hold open houses at the request of our clients at specific times in the listing.  For example, we hold it open 2x during the first 30 days and then 1x after each price reduction.  Contrary to the article, we have sold homes as a result of open house.  Like any marketing activity, it often depends how you prepare for it - open houses are no different.  We promote open house via the internet and the occasional e-blast to anyone in the database looking at a specific area in a specific price range.  We also contact neighbors.  In each case, we are trying to leverage the exposure of this property and get it sold.  Believe it or not, but there are people who don't like real estate agents and find open houses less threatening than scheduling an appointment to see the home.