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Welcome to the Open House, argh.

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Rate A Home

 Open House's, some love em, some hate em, but they are a necessity of the Real-estate world.

Seller's in most cases choose the Real-estate Professional that will represent them based on the pipe dream of numerous open houses the agent promises to hold at their home.

I've ran into quite a few agents that don't feel open houses are the ladder to success, but still most conduct them because they feel it's a customer service that needs to be done.

True, every once in awhile the agent is lucky enough to find that special buyer for the clients house. These are the bonuses for the time invested.

Open houses as we know are an excellent marketing tool for future clients if conducted correctly. I have to confess that I have toured open houses myself. Not as a buyer, but to see how the agent presents themselves and the home. What I found is total failure in the majority of homes.

The questions that could be asked are being missed. Simple introductions with a business card, missed. A good closing line as I walked out, missed.

Take the time to prepare the home, yourself and the marketing aspect before throwing a sign in front of the home. You only have one chance to make a lasting impression. Or simply do nothing and watch as Mr. & Mrs. Buyer drives off into the sunset.

 

 

 

Animations by www.92ee.com

Comments(11)

Daniel J. Brudnok, REALTOR
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach, REALTORS - Exton - PA License #RS-225179-L / Delaware License #RS-0025038 - Downingtown, PA
SRES, e-PRO,ABR,GREEN,CSP

Duane,

I think I hate them.....and thus I am not the best at them.  All the questions I need to ask when I have them I feel myself that I am forcing them....I must get better  at them, as you have stated they are a necessity.

Dec 26, 2007 03:14 AM
* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI
Dan, thanks for stopping by. I was guilty of the same when I was doing sales. It's easier to sit back and hope the buyer is interested enough to ask the questions. As for open houses, I feel the same way, but we all have to do them for the seller's, to save face.
Dec 27, 2007 04:38 AM
Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!
Hi Duane...I agree they are a marketing tool....open houses do create market exposure but I get most of my new listings from them.  Sellers are interviewing agents to see who will represent them best.  Nice post Duane.
Dec 27, 2007 11:47 AM
Latonia Parks
Top Bragg Realty, Fayetteville NC, Home of the 82d ABN DIV - Fayetteville, NC
Certified Military Relocation Expert
I hate the instability of them.  This holiday is a good time to view homes but no one shows up after being there for several hours.  That's the nature of the job as I continue to perform my model home duties.peanut
Dec 27, 2007 12:33 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Open houses are a great way to get to know the neighbors and alos find buyers.

Dec 27, 2007 12:46 PM
Stella Barbour
NoVa Brokers LLC - Vienna, VA
Principal Broker, Serving Virginia and Maryland
I hate open houses and they don't work as often as I hope and the worse is when not one person shows up and you have to tell your seller.
Dec 27, 2007 12:49 PM
* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI
Gary, thanks for stopping by. Getting new clients seems to be the out come of most open houses, so that's a good thing. I know a few agents in town who wouldn't do open houses, wonder if they are doing them now in this economy.
Dec 28, 2007 01:37 AM
* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI
Latonia, LOL, of course it only takes one buyer to make your day. Happy New Year.
Dec 28, 2007 01:49 AM
* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI
Gita, getting to know the neighbors is a great marketing tool for future relationships. Thanks for your comment.
Dec 28, 2007 01:55 AM
* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI

Stella, that's the frustrating part of open houses. It's a hit and miss situation every time. Then of course your seller's looking at you as if you did some thing wrong. Argh.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy New Year.

Dec 28, 2007 02:05 AM
* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI
Jamie, so true. I've been through open houses where the agent has to be cringing because of the house keeping of the seller. If only the seller would follow the open house check list, it would be so much better for the agent and the seller in marketing their home.
Dec 28, 2007 05:11 AM