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Please Remind Me Again Why Old Skool Open Houses Don't Work. I'm A Slow Learner.

By
Real Estate Agent with Labrum Real Estate

old guy Today I went and did a stupid old skool marketing thing and held a Open House in Murrieta California. With the technology we have today such as the Internet, websites and YouTube videos many real estate agents think agents like myself are dinosaurs and need to get into the Modern world. My opinion is why not combine the new with the old as then you have more weapons in the marketing arsenal.

 Anyway today I held an open house in the gate guarded community of Bear Creek in Murrieta from 11 until 4. There were 18 folks who came through the property, some only wanting to take a look, and a few were with their agents but the main thing is the property was exposed to all of them which is what my seller hired me to do. In this case my seller is a lender who foreclosed on the home and listed it with my partner and myself.

 It doesn't happen often that someone who comes into an Open House wants to make an offer but it happened today. A man and his wife came in and took a look around asking many questions as they toured the home and of course I got their contact information to follow up with them. That's my job after all. Low and behold this gentleman returned and asked to make a cash offer. Since he lives in the community I sent him to his house to bring Proof of Funds to pay cash for the home. Jim was back in ten minutes and we wrote up a good offer that has a strong chance of getting accepted.

 

 Jim and his wife have a second home in the area and will only be here for another week as they came into town Friday. After looking at the comparable sales for the community they feel it will be a good investment property to add to their portfolio and go figure if it wasn't for my Open House they may have never seen it. Call it luck, the stars were aligned but I call it Marketing.

 Old and new combined equals results.

Comments (12)

Mary Kay Hopkins
Mary Kay Hopkins, LLC e-PRO, GRI, CRS, CRB - Lake Charles, LA
e-PRO,GRI,CRS

Cameron, sounds like "congratulations" will soon be in order.  Guess you'll continue to combine the old and new school.

Jun 05, 2010 03:54 PM
Cameron Wilson
Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

Mary, I absolutely will continue.

Jun 05, 2010 03:56 PM
Sandy Kaduce
SKG Marketing - Mukilteo, WA

Yup, old and new is how you get results!  I came into the industry as a person who focused on using technology but that's never been because I didn't think the old skool stuff like open houses work.  They work great, if you work them.  :-)

Jun 05, 2010 07:34 PM
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Cameron,

Way to go.  One really never knows, but good for you on this one.

Jun 06, 2010 12:07 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Cameron:  Congrats on the open house success.  It's great to hear that these marketing tools still work.  In our business, face to face and actually viewing property is a must.   Open houses are a great way to meet buyers and as you've proven, sell a house.

Jun 06, 2010 05:39 AM
Janice Sutton
1st Stage Property Transformations - Murrieta, CA
Home Stager - Temecula Murrieta

Wow that's great news!! Congratulations!!  Sometimes you have to be in the right place at the right time!!

Jun 06, 2010 05:53 AM
Paul C. Wilkinson
CENTURY 21 Preferred - Menifee, CA
GRI, REALTOR -Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula - (951)

Congrats Cameron.  Funny those who doubt the power of an open house, I've had lightning strike more than once in similar situations.

Jun 06, 2010 07:30 AM
Cameron Wilson
Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

Sandy, Mixed together you have a better chance for success.

Richard, Thank you.

Chris Ann, It's a people business for sure and face to face brings the best results.

Jun 06, 2010 07:48 AM
Cameron Wilson
Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

Janice, Thank you. You never know who you will meet at an open house.

Paul, I know you have. Maybe your a slow learner as well.

Jun 06, 2010 07:50 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Good for you Cameron!  I've done more open houses this year than I've done in 25 years!  I have to admit, I'm not all that great at converting prospects at open houses into clients.  I'm not sure why.  But, like you, I feel I am exposing the home to potential clients, which is what I've been hired to do.  Here's hoping you close it and are headed for a nice payday!  

Jun 06, 2010 03:18 PM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

Open houses work down here, too. I think it's a matter of so many people not doing them that when someone does them, they are successful.

Jun 07, 2010 07:12 AM
Kate Wheeler
Country Homes and Land Murphy NC Realtor - Murphy, NC
CCIM - Murphy NC Real Estate for Sale

I'm with you, Cameron.  The more tools we have in our bag, the more likely we are to find one that works!   

Jun 13, 2010 08:05 AM