Annie,

This post says it all.....open houses work.....I picked up two new buyers in one open house just two weeks ago but will say have picked up 100s of buyers in my career at open house (for anyone out there on a budget.....it is the least expensive way to pick up business other than personal referral)

Annie, I have to say that I like Opens...also and for all the same reasons you do. I just sold one of my listings at my Open....again like you..I think I've only done that twice. I got that listing, however at another Open on one of my listings. I love Opens for all the same reasons...it's quiet and I can actually not be task oriented if I choose to....and I enjoy meeting people. I also like to just feel the house and I love all my houses....they are like people to me. I talk to them and like to create that field of receptive possibility. It works! Nice post!

I'm one that likes them also, especially when the weather is nice.  I'm chatty so anytime I can meet new people its a good time for me. 

Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't it is just luck on who or how many show up

You are right- unless you have an appointment with a realistic Buyer or realistic Seller......then you should give yourself the opportunity for free exposure to anyone who sees the sign.

Even with the latest technologies out there, the O.H. is still one of our tools in our realtor toolbox.  In 1996, I sold 6 homes off the open houses, and still hold listings open today.  It's just a great chance to sell the home, pick up buyers, be on an 'interview' for potential sellers coming through, and fsbos.

Jeff Lund  

I have not seen any evidence of Open Houses being of any benefit to the sellers or to the Agent. I have seen numerous posts and comments that say that less than 1% of houses are sold that way.

That said I personally like open houses, I like to meet the people.

May be I should be a Sales Agent for a building company. A perminant Open House. 8 hours a day, 7 days a week.

These Open Houses seem to work for Builders, may be the success of agents Open Houses is only based on the 2-4 hours a week that the house is open rather than the 40 hours a week compared to the Builders Open Houses.

I think open houses are worth while.I held one last weekend and met 8 potential buyers.It also pleases sellers.

I was going to leave a post about how I don't think they work, but after reading all of your post maybe it's just me in my own head that doesn't want them to work.  I don't want to spend my Sunday sitting alone in an open house.  I do have to say that I sold a house at an open house, it was the house down the street but I sold a house.  Maybe I'll give it a shot again. 

I think open houses are way underrated. I think it is entirely possible now more then ever to sell the home you are holding open. Buyers are able to look at homes and search criteria on the internet before ever contacting a realtor. Alot of times, the buyer entering the open house has already seen it on the internet and it matches enough of their criteria to want to go see it. I actually bought my own house because a friend of mine saw it, it was a new build and was open and she went through it.I never considered this subdivision because the home wasn't as big as i wanted but she kept going on and on about how nice this home was so I went to see it and bought it. So even if the people coming through don't buy, maybe they know someone who will.

Anytime, you can draw prospects in is not wasted time in my opinion.

As a new entry to the world of real estate, open houses that draw visitors are a great way to get leads. Unfortunately, many of the open houses do not have much (if any) traffic. Hopefully the Century21 April Open House Month promotion will help to drive some traffic.

I love open houses.  I look at it as an opportunity to meet potential clients as well as quiet time to catch up on paperwork, a good book, or whatever.  I have actually organized a city wide open house in my area later this month.  Of the 106 homes currently active, only 24 are currenlty being held open.  I've heard everything from "I don't do open houses, to they are a waste of time, or it's to far for me to drive"  My first 6 months in the business, I sold two of my listings from open houses!