Successful Open House?

Open Houses, in a hot market, have always been successful for our practice. In a slower market, they are mostly to keep the Seller feeling like something is happening. The location of the property has a lot to do with turnout. If the property is in a bedroom community, the turn out will be mostly neighbors and low. If it's in an area where restaurants are in walking distance, it will more likely have a higher turn out.

Learn what are activities are going on and schedule around those. For example, schedule a Sunday open house after church let's out. If there is a sport arena nearby, schedule around a game. Get some of the visitors to the game into your open house.

Don't fret when it's just neighbors. Some of them will be noisy; some will be looking for a listing agent themselves. Ask every one of them, "Who do you know who might like living here?" Occasionally, I've had a neighbor find the buyer by doing that.

The most important part of getting traffic to an open house is making it visible.  Our open house signs go all the way to a major intersection and always have 3 - 5 balloons tied to them to make them noticeable. It is work but well worth the trouble......

Open houses are hit or miss. Advertising is the key as is location.  The more visible the house is the better luck you'll have getting people off the street.

Depending on pricing I have found Craig's list to be a good tool to get folks in.  You need to get it on-line as many places as you can.  Newspapers aren't being read these days by many buyers.

Hi Amy - 1st of all, I love that area of NC! I was their for almost 8 years, while in the Marine Corps.

The BIGGEST piece of advice I could give would absolutely be for you to physically walk the surrounding streets of your upcoming open house & knock on neighbor's doors!  Tell them about the open house & tell them to invite their friends!

This works to your benefit in so many ways, but the most important is that it gives you a reason to have a conversation with new people.  They will almost always ask you about the market...this is YOUR chance to prove your value to them & you never know...they may be thinking of moving/buying.

Also, ask your referral lender partner to help promote the open house & be there as well.  I own a Mortgage company in Virginia & we always love attending our Realtor's open houses...sparks creativity.

Keep your head up & it WILL rain!!!!! :o)

P.S. - If you need a great lender in NC...I'm your guy!  

Know the demographics of the neighborhood and then market your listing in publications or online areas targeted to that demographic. For example, if your listing is in a college area, advertising in AARP probably is not the best use of advertising dollars.