It's OPEN HOUSE day...again and traffic is slow...again! Oh, I have used all the usual lures:
drawing for a gift certificate to somewhere, bottles of wine, movie tickets, and todays'
option: Jimmy JOhn's gourmet subs, deli dill pickles, southern ice tea, and some shortbread
cookies I found on sale at the local grocery.  The only thing I am confident in is that I now
know what my kids will be having for dinner (I'm sure you can all relate)  So the question is,
" is there any offering that consistently gets other Realtors in the door of an Open House"?

As Realtors, we know that Open Houses typically do not yield a buyer for the house you have "OPEN".
We feel obliged to sit, in sometimes completely empty homes, for hours on end- Usually eating way
too much of the food we have prepared (or bought) for others to devour as they listen to us drone on
about all the wonderful features of our listing. I must admit though, at this moment I am looking out
a huge picture window of a beautiful lake and mountains as a back-drop.  NOt a bad place to be hanging
out.

But it does give you pause as to whether you could be more productive at your office (with wi-fi)
crafting a "featured home" page for your listing.  Or perhaps sitting with your office cohorts brain-
storming marketing ideas and pricing strategies. 

Maybe a cocktail hour OPEN HOUSE.  In this mountain town I live and work in, Apres Anything generally
gets people out of their offices. Yes!  That's it...now I just need to list a house with a western
facing living room, or patio/deck to showcase a beautiful Summit County, Colorado sunset and send out
cool invitations with pictures of martini glasses on them. 

I'll keep you all posted on how that works out.  In the meantime, I'd love to hear your suggestions
on what successes you have had with Open Houses!

ABC (always be closing),

Jenny G.

Jenny Gloudemans

Owner/Broker, MBA,CNE

Simply Summit Realty

 

22 Comments on It's OPEN HOUSE day...again...

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

AUG
26
588,786 Points 61 Featured Posts Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Two of my closed client this year have come from open houses, and a current prospect. I use ant down time to blog. So don't find them to be a waste of time at all.
6:33am • #3
100,372 Points

Many of my listing clients specifically request "no open houses".  One recently came right out and said: "You can prospct for buyer leads someplace else"!  I started my career years ago by holding open houses every weekend for agents who were not interested in doing them... obtained buyer after buyer; actually did sell one house (one). That was back when hoards of househunters would grab the Sunday paper and drive from open house to open house.  It's not like that here at all anymore.
6:49am • #4
103,365 Points

Thank you Jenny for sharing with us! I like open houses it is opportunity to meet people e get some prospect to work with.
7:12am • #5
389,219 Points 27 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master
I met the buyer who was working with another agent who eventually bought another listing of mine. I am pretty sure that if I had not talked to him, he would have been steered to another house listed by that other agent.
8:14am • #6
123,271 Points

I love the cocktail hour idea! But broker open work and draw like crazy, I have done a white board with a contest for which agent correctly predicts the sale price... I share this with the seller and is very revealing from other agents and shared with my seller. Great post and congrats on feature ;)
9:00am • #7
198,101 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

We still do open houses for our clients who want them.  The best traffic we get at open houses is when we are not competing with another event.  Today, my partner (and husband) is holding an open house from 11:00 to 1:00, because the Browns are playing; and we want no competition.

 
9:00am • #8
179,909 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I like the index card idea for sign ins instead of the sign up sheet.  Get the customer info and ask them a few questions about the home including price.  This can help with a price reduction later if needed.  Another post comment about the ipad app- openhomepro seemed like a really good idea too! Good luck.
1:48pm • #9
1 Featured Post

Good thoughts. However, now with laptops and tablets tethered to mobile phones .. we no longer have to decide between the office or the open house to do "productive work"!
3:37pm • #10
157,903 Points Outside Blog

I do not like open houses.  You never know who is coming thru and what they are REALLY looking for or at.

But it is a good place to meet possible future clients and perhaps even get some computer work done.
3:47pm • #11
3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Some days are better than others. When I am working an open house with a Realtor, I bring reading that I want to catch up on, you never know if it is going to be busy or not.

 
5:11pm • #12

I usually love sitting at open houses.  I have staged the homes, so I know they are clean and beautiful (and if they're not, I won't hold an open house there).  I get to spend 3 luxurious hours in someone else's quiet, pretty house, while visiting with generally nice people or in my worst cases, get caught up on other work.  It feels good to put some positive energy into the home.  I visualize the new buyers being very happy there!
5:20pm • #13
223,327 Points 6 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hi Jenny...having lived for many years in Colorado Springs prior to 2003, I realize that your buyer client may be a bit different than many areas...with many of them from out of town.

My question is this...would it be better to hold it during the week if you are trying to get Realtors through your OH?

I ask this because of your one comment>>> "So the question is,
" is there any offering that consistently gets other Realtors in the door of an Open House"?"

Or are you trying to get Realtor's who are showing homes on a Sunday to stop along with their clients?

I have never counted on other agents showing up for my Open Houses on weekends and if I was trying to target them...I did the Open House usually on Tuesday AM from 11:00 to 1:00 and did send out flyers or emails letting them know lunch was on me that day.

Is there a time in your week that they are out looking at homes for tour? Not sure what to tell you but I have always had excellent luck with Open Houses.     Good Luck on your listing!!

 
8:13pm • #14
223,327 Points 6 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

By the way Jenny, I see you are pretty new to AR and I encourage you to get actively involved as it does give you exposure...including posting the listing you mentioned above on AR...And a week or two down the road re-post in a bit of a different format...and do this with all of your listings... Good Luck!! mike
8:18pm • #15
AUG
27
103,380 Points

I enjoy Twilight Open Houses :)  I have had good luck w/them around the pool.
8:25am • #16
142,494 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I love this white board idea: "a contest for which agent correctly predicts the sale price".  Maybe with secret ballots, though.  In any form, I like it and will use it.
8:43am • #17
152,908 Points Outside Blog

Wine Tasting Open Houses.

Progressive Open House Tours - several houses open and each serves part of a meal (appetizer, main, dessert, etc...)
11:19am • #18
Outside Blog

Something that is working well here where inventory is low is to list a home on say a Monday or Tuesday but do NOT allow any showings until the "Open House" you do on Saturday or Sunday. This way all the interested parties who want to see it come at the same time (less work for the sellers to have to just prepare the house one time) and because this typically draws a lot of people, it sets a sense of urgency for the buyer and you will typically get multiple offers and at better prices. Good luck! 
12:07pm • #19
AUG
29
1,022,995 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I always take my paper with me or a good book.  If the clients don't come I enjoy the quite and do some reading.
7:56pm • #20
OCT
22
133,242 Points Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Wow I could picture that open house, maybe just similar wording in an advertisement would make people schedule an appointment instead!
2:56am • #21
NOV
18
236,125 Points 5 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Good food and an Ipad raffle is the best way to attract large numbers of agents in my area.
3:46pm • #22

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Jenny Gloudemans

Silverthorne, CO

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Simply Summit Realty

Address: PO Box 4630, Dillon, CO, 80435

Office Phone: (970) 485-0454

Cell Phone: (970) 485-0454

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