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$2.10 change my open house and the attitudes of those coming in

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty LLC 200311024

Are you holding an open house on a cold and rainy day, like the one we are having here today in Beaverton, Oregon, and seem to have everyday during the winter? If you have never been to the Pacific Northwest during the winter, let me give you an idea what almost everyday is here.

You get up to it being about 35° and raining, never quit cold enough to snow, but just enough that it makes it very miserable when it comes time to walk the dog at 6am. This weather continues from about October 1st - April 1 every year and boy is it fun.

Well, we still have to sell homes and sometimes it is the little things that make a difference in selling a home. Today the home I was holding open always seems to get the question, "is that a gas or wood burning fireplace?" So today, I decided to show everyone and bought a six hour Presto log, plenty time to show it is a real fireplace and make it through the entire open house.

What a difference it has made! This home is staged and looks wonderful, but when you walk in and see a fire going it really made the place look amazing and I hope to report by the end of the day that we have an offer, just because the people felt like they were home.

The first two reactions to the fire were "this place looks amazing", and, "love the fire, it makes me just want to stay". Yes, I got their name and numbers because this was a little out of their price range, but I think I have a couple other places that I can show them on Monday that will be exactly what they are looking for.


Online Videos by Veoh.com

So, come on over and sit by the fire with me and together we can write and offer by the fire instead of standing out in the cold and wet weather that we call winter.

 

Comments (14)

Sal Poliandro - Helping People Win
RE/MAX Properties - Ridgewood, NJ
Broker Associate

That is really making your marketing dollars work for you. I agree, what a difference a fire in a fireplace makes. 

 

Sal Poliandro - Bergen County Realtor   

Dec 29, 2007 10:43 AM
Todd Jones
Weichert Realtors - Hibble & Associates - Clarks Summit, PA
Simple but effective. Great idea!
Dec 29, 2007 10:58 AM
Courtney Cooper
Cooper Jacobs - Seattle, WA
206-850-8841
Very cool!  And good graphic, too!
Dec 29, 2007 11:22 AM
Marlene Scheffer
Realty Station - Bremerton, WA
Realtor to Kitsap County, WA
What a good idea!  I may try that one later this month at one of my open houses.  Well, when I do an open house.  I hate them, but they are a necesary evil at times, I suppose....  I guess a fire in the fireplae could only help my attitude about them, right?
Dec 29, 2007 04:44 PM
Roberta LaRocca
Simply Vegas Real Estate - Las Vegas, NV
REALTOR®, Broker, Salesperson, NV. Lic BS.507
Todd, That is a great idea!  We get some cold days here but it is usually sunny so the fire probably wouldn't do me much good but I love the idea anyway!
Dec 29, 2007 04:49 PM
Judy Tuscano
Prudential Verani Realty - Nottingham, NH
NH Real Estate Professional
Therre is nothing like a fire in the fireplace when doing an open house. I love having them no matter if they are woo or gas. Not sure i like the weather in your neck of the woods. If it is cold I much prefer snow to rain. There is nothing more difficult to bear than cold rain. Brrrrrrr.
Dec 30, 2007 04:40 AM
Rick Grand
nowhere - Eugene, OR

you are very wise Mr. Clark ;-) Good move on your part. I could definitely see how that would have a very nice impact on the homes. Especially with our lovely Oregon weather...

 

kudos to you!     

Jan 03, 2008 02:40 AM
Maui Real Estate - Lisa B. Miller R(S)
Keller Williams Realty Maui - Kihei, HI
I bet a fire would be a welcoming sight for those braving the weather to tour homes!  The nice thing about doing open houses in Maui is the weather is always warm, but you do have the occasional rain shower which is inconvenient when collecting all your signs!
Jan 03, 2008 02:47 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate
Hey I wish our homes had a fireplace.......oh well.....but your idea was perfect....it truly is the small things that can make some of the biggest impacts.
Jan 03, 2008 02:49 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Sal - I used it again this year with the same success.

Todd - $2.60 never went so far!

Mar 29, 2009 09:39 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Michael - Homes with firelog had more interested buyers than those open houses that didn't.

Courtney - Thanks, that is the actual fire from the fireplace.

Mar 29, 2009 09:42 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Marlene - Don't think of them as a necessary evil, think of them as a business opportunity.

Roberta - Do you even have fireplaces in Vegas?

Mar 29, 2009 09:44 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Judy - We rarely get snow, we mostly get the cold rain.

Rick - How are things going for you Rick, last time we talked you were the agent and no longer a mortgage broker.

Mar 29, 2009 09:45 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Lisa - Sorry, not going to feel sorry for you today. Come to Oregon, we will show you rain! (LOL)

Kathy - Too warm, down there is it?

Mar 29, 2009 09:47 PM