Open houses can be a long and tedious few hours. Which one of us hasn’t sat in an empty house on a lawn chair and tray table next to us? Or been in a house that you knew was overpriced? Or thought to yourself “What is that smell?”
Personally, I like to work open houses. There I’ve said it! I know that a lot of real estate agents will do almost anything to avoid working one, from stretching the truth saying they’re too busy to work one on the weekend to telling the owner that it’ll only be neighbors coming so why bother. Yes the neighbors do show up to look and compare – but how do you know that they’re not the next to list?
Experts are always talking about building your pipeline. Yes you really should make cold calls, yes you really should farm a neighborhood, and yes you really should be handing out your business cards to everyone you meet. And finally, yes you really should be working open houses every chance you get.
Open houses are a great way to meet new prospects. Not only will you meet the neighbors, but you will meet some people who are driving by on a beautiful Saturday/Sunday afternoon and are curious. Without talking to them you don’t know their circumstances.
When you meet them you might learn that they are thinking of buying their first house, or they currently own a house and want to upgrade. Maybe they are already in the market and they have an agent working on their behalf. Well good for them and wish them good luck! If not, here you are available and ready to help.
So yes! I like to work open houses. So far this year I’ve met a couple that bought the house I was sitting and was my listing. I’ve also met many people that are in the “thinking about it” process. And I’ve met a one couple that couldn’t qualify for a loan, but are now working on their credit and will be able to buy in the near future. That’s the thing with open houses you never know what’s going to happen.
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