Open House Sundays

I'm doing an open house today.  I'm not a huge fan of open houses, and therefore I don't do many of them.  The chance of that open house selling the house that is open is very, very small. Very small.  However, I like to do them for new listings to introduce them to the market or when there is a price reduction to introduce it to new buyers at that price point.

There are all sorts of so-called strategies for making an open house appealing: lighting candles, lighting a fire, baking cookies, playing soft music.    I'm not sure any of that matters (except for maybe lighting a fire which helped seal a deal for me on a cold February Sunday).  I know some believe strongly in professional flyers or brochures.  I just have issues with that much ink ultimately ending up in someone's garbage.  Some of my colleagues do nothing for an open house but show up and grab customers with their sparkling personalities.

As Realtors, we are taught to really market our open houses aside from just putting them in the Sunday Homes section of the newspaper.  It's suggested that we send out invites to the neighborhood, post it on as many websites as possible, and of course, make sure to have plenty of directional signs.  However, even with all that done and even done well, the chance of drawing a large crowd or even a real, earnest buyer for THAT house is small. 

Many sellers really want their Realtors to do open houses--even every Sunday.  They don't mind sacrificing 2 hours away from home even if there is a small chance that that two hours may produce a buyer.  And many of my colleagues love to do open houses, especially new Realtors looking for potential buyers, if not for that house, for another.   I guess if all parties are agreeable, it's a win-win.

So today I'm doing an open house.  It's a new listing and that will hopefully peak some curiousity and bring out someone interested in buying.  I'm not baking cookies, bread, lighting a fire or any candles.  I'm relying on the house to sell itself with its 4 bedrooms, huge lot and great price.  Maybe I'll even bring in my sparkling personality...

STOP BY 516 WOODVALE in DEFOREST from 12-2!  MLS #1518799