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How Come No One Came To Visit My Open House? (Part 3)

By Lola Audu

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate

January 21, 2008 08:39 AM

*Here's the link to read Parts 1 & 2 of this Series.

home buying in Grand Rapids, Michigan One of the most unexpected obstacles to potential prospects coming into an Open House is an item which has been your long time alley in marketing your Grand Rapids, Michigan home. Your Real Estate Sign!

When Signs Reveal too Much...

Sometimes a sign tells a buyer who stops by an Open House too much. For instance, many real estate agents will place a brochure box on your For Sale Sign so that motorist can stop and pick up a brochure with information about your home. While this is great when you don't want unexpected visitors, it can be a problem when you want people to come in and they grab a brochure instead.

Empty That Brochure Box!

So, for starters, make sure your real estate sign does NOT have a Full Brochure Box when you have an Open House. This does not mean that you should minimize your sign. On the contrary...Your sign can be a great tool. Remember that your sign is being driven by daily. Motorist may block it out subconsciously because they are used to seeing it.

An Open House is the time to dress up your sign in it's Sunday Best!

Make it burst with color using large helium balloons. Tie a number of these around your mailbox too. You may want to have a few balloons tied to signs directing passersby to your home. Balloons invite people to a party. You want them to feel like you're giving one when you Advertise an Open House.

Paying attention to these simple things can be very important. Always remember, you don't need 100 potential prospects tramping through your home to buy it...You only need the Right One...The Qualified, Ready, Willing and Able Buyer for your home!

In Part 4 We will be talking about Getting The Word Out!

If you'd like more information about the Home Selling Process or would like to speak with one of our knowledgeable agents, contact Audu Real Estate or e-mail us at: info@auduhomes.com

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Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239

Real Estate One - Commerce, MI

Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com

Thanks for the reminder. I usually always empty the brochure box that way they will have to come in and view the house and maybe even chat for a few minutes

Jan 21, 2008 09:00 AM

Brian Schulman

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA

Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Lola, your idea of temporarily removing flyers from the brochure box is a good one!

Jan 21, 2008 09:02 AM

Lola Audu

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI

Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!

Russ...learned by experience. There are few things more frusterating than sitting in an Open House, having a car drive by and then they pick up the brochure and drive away...when the home is primed for an excellent showing.

Jan 21, 2008 09:04 AM

Thanks Brian. Learned that one the hard way! :)

Jan 21, 2008 09:05 AM

Monika McGillicuddy

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH

Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

Lola...We often empty our brochure box and usually put a note in saying something like "If there are no more brochures please call us at------and let us know." Interesting enough...we'll get calls about being out of flyer's but rarely get a call off the brochure itself.

Jan 21, 2008 11:45 AM

Marc Grossman

Marc It Sold! - Longwood, FL

GRI, Greater Orlando Real Estate Broker

Lola, As I started reading your post, the first thing that came to mind was you need to empty the info tube. Obviously, you stated such. Don't understand why anyone wouldn't do that. Easiest way to stop someone from coming in. If I haven't told you recently, quite like your new pic.

Jan 21, 2008 11:56 AM

Oh Monikia, that is brilliant! Can you imagine how many trees would be saved and how many more calls we would get. That is instant info. from someone interested who is at the house. WOW! Have I told you before...I LOVE Active Rain! LOL

Jan 21, 2008 12:37 PM

Hi Marc, I think sometimes we get so busy trying to get signs out and the home ready that this is something that a real estate agent might miss...until the car stops in the driveway and the occupants never come in! Thank you for the compliment and for stopping by to read and leave a comment.

Jan 21, 2008 12:54 PM

Diane Testa

Mullica Hill, NJ

Lola,

This is a very true statement. If the buyers don't need to come in to see the inside, but can get the info on the brochure, you have less of a chance of helping that buyer. Take the brochure box away. Instead of balloons that pop when they hit the sign I use American flags. They have the same effect of drawing attention to the signs... they blow in the breeze... and they are a ton less cumbersome then balloons to work with. When the open house is done, leave them up to keep the attention of the passers by! You can place these on directional signs as well, and they show our pride of our country!

Jan 21, 2008 01:11 PM

Another great idea! Thanks for stopping by to read and share your comment. Flags are a great idea. I'm not sure I would want to leave them out in case they became tattered by the weather, but definitely during the Open House, it would really stand out. I don't think I've ever seen anyone do this.

Jan 21, 2008 01:17 PM

I'm glad you like the idea Lola. I was tired of fighting with the balloons that get tangled, popped, and just loosing some to their anti-gravity abilities. The signs I get are made of choro-plastic, so the slots are just perfect for the stick to slide into. I know that once in awhile I see someone trying to copy my idea, but I think I came up with it originally. One year I had purchased flags (around 9/11) and decorated my whole neighborhood with them. I had some left over and came up with that idea.

Jan 21, 2008 11:22 PM

How Come No One Came To Visit My Open House? (Part 3)

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