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Open House advertising - Where, How, What, When?

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty Mid-Willamette

When you are preparing for an Open House, what do you do?

 

Do you put an advertisement in the newspaper?
Do you advertise on your MLS?
Do you send out a mailer to clients or a farm?
Do you knock on doors in the neighborhood?
Do you put up directional signs only?
Do you advertise on Craigslist? ... Trulia, Zillow, Active Rain, etc. etc. etc...

 

What's your process for preparing for an Open House? How much leg work do you do ahead of time to prepare for the open house? How much time do you spend calling, mailing, walking, etc? Do you do anything special at all, or just throw an ad up on Craigslist and then go from there? I want to know what kind of results you get from each of the forms of advertising.

 

Of course, we realize that life is always hit and miss, and the biggest advertising campaign can result in nothing, and sometimes a walk in neighbor can result in a full price offer. But let's play the numbers game.

 

How did you advertise, what results did you get? Have you played with variations on adversiting and received different results?

Jen Bowman
Keller Williams on the Water - Holmes Beach, FL
Realtor - Anna Maria Island & Bradenton FL

I advertise open houses on GeorgiaOpenHouses.com, Craigslist, our MLS, Trulia, Zillow & Realtor.com. Newspaper advertising has not been effective so I don't do it anymore.

Mar 20, 2009 09:20 AM
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

My wife and I have a listing coming up at the end of the month in the Winona Lake area, in Warsaw, Indiana.  We are going to put it on our blogs, AR, Facebook, Twitter, etc etc etc.  We are also going to knock on doors in the neighborhood the weekend before and the weekend of the open house.  We are going to hand out flyers that talk about the open house but we are going to push it as more of a neighborhood party.  We plan on having a huge cookout from 1-5.  Brats, burgers, dogs and everything!  Should be fun! 

Mar 20, 2009 09:31 AM
Connie Lou Barnett
Real Living/Home Realty - Owensboro, KY
GRI,CRS,CRB,SRMM,ARA,PRS,SFR,QSC

I advertise my open houses in the newspaper, put them on the web, put a sign in the year announcing the open house for Saturday or Sunday along with the time.  I also have an information box in the front yard.  I really think the web and the sign in the yard prior to the open house works best for me.

Mar 20, 2009 09:50 AM
Shawn Tucker
Keller Williams Realty Mid-Willamette - Corvallis, OR

Jen: What kind of numbers do you get from only advertising online? What turned you to online advertising instead of the newspaper? Do you have a local newspaper where you're at, or is it a large metro newspaper?

 

Wayne: What a great idea! A cookout... I was thinking about holding a Superbowl party for an open house, but I was afraid of the mess! How are you managing that?

 

Connie: Have you ever inquired where people saw the information about the open house? I'd love to know where they find out about it.

 

A lot to think about, especially when some advertising costs a lot of money and might not be bringing in the buyers...

Mar 20, 2009 10:17 AM
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

Well, I guess for us the open house/party isn't over when everybody is full, it's over when we clean it all up!  :)

Mar 20, 2009 10:31 AM
Amy Seaholt
Inhabit Real Estate - Portland, OR
REALTOR, Portland Oregon

I don't advertise in the Oregonian any more. It's been years since anyone has come to an open based on that. It's all signage and online presence for me!

~Amy

Mar 20, 2009 11:47 AM