Open House, Insert Buyer

I know many Realtors, (on AR and outside, as well!), feel that open houses are a waste of their time.  I have read a number of blogs over my time here on AR offering some really excellent ideas on hosting successful open houses, and no doubt some of them have been tried and been met with limited success, if any.  That qualifies the attempt for those Realtors, as a "failure", and the "last time they will try that"...

I have also read several blogs about how popular open houses are in different parts of the country.  How open houses are a Sunday afternoon event, and well attended.  Cities where a weekend is dedicated to open houses, and all who choose to, can participate in a city-wide open house weekend. 

How do you suppose that happened?  That an entire city worth of residents and Realtors decided that this sort of event was worthwhile, and that they would support it?

Change is hard.  No matter if it is for a good thing, a better thing, the best thing, change is hard.  As much as people believe that they are open-minded, it is in our nature to like things "the way they are".  Call it fear of the unknown, or whatever you like, but we don't like change.

I read a statistic that showed homeowners do not like open houses.  I am not a Realtor, but as a stager I can say that anytime a Realtor of a home I have staged, offers an open house, the homeowner seems happy!  They like the idea of exposing their newly staged home to the buying public in all its' glory, so I am not sure which homeowners these stats came from.

 

Another statistic I read said that over 90% of buyers that are preparing to start the buying process, plan to attend an open house.  I have been to open houses where the Realtor was clearly bored to tears, with only me,  the lone stager visiting.  If none of the "usuals" are going on, soft music, light refreshments, soft lighting, a "created atmosphere" it can be a little awkward.  Like you have walked in where you are not supposed to be...in someones living room, uninvited.  I have been to a multitude of "Parade of Homes" tours, where we literally had to stand in line to wait our turn to get in to see the house. What makes the difference?  Of course the interior decor is a draw, but so is the opportunity to see inside of nearly ANY house, for some folks...and aren't you only looking for one buyer?

Open houses are not particularly popular in my area, and for that reason, I do not go to many.  If they were popular, I would feel comfortable that the attending Realtor would not assume that I was looking to buy, but "just looking".  In areas where open houses are a Sunday afternoon activity, (as they have been in other areas  where  I have lived), a "looky-loo" is not a bad thing.  It is an opportunity to show a listing to an individual who has friends, and they have friends, and they have friends, who know someone who is looking to buy...

I don't have an answer as to how to make open houses a popular thing in an area, other than to just keep plugging away.  I also don't know of many Realtors interested in making open houses a popular thing in their area, if they are not already.  Clearly, in areas where open houses are not popular, homes still sell, but I think an interesting statistic would be a comparison of the haves and the have nots, to see if there is any correlation in the speed and price at which a house sells. 

 

I once worked with a Realtor for whom I had staged one of her listings, she also had MY listing, (my home) and another in the vicinity of my home.  She hosted a triple open house, simultaneously, having assistants, (myself and her daughter) host at each of the homes, and serve refreshments.  (I did not host at my own home, just in case you were wondering!).  I thought that was quite a creative idea on her part, especially in an area where open houses were not that popular...

My home and the close by home sold not long after, and the third one some time later.  None due to the open house, but, as I said, change is hard...

 

  I have an eye for your style!    

  Cheryl Marantino  719.393.3729 

Colorado Springs, Colorado 

            Home Stager and Redesigner