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Broker Open Houses?

By
Real Estate Agent with Zip Realty

Hi all!

 I was wondering if any of you Open House veterans have had or plan to hold a Brokers Open, and what are you planning to do for it?  How will you entice other agents to come?

 Is it a waste of time?

What kind of advertising do you do?

Do you door knock before the open house?

 I know there's a lot of arguments over wether or not Open Houses are successful or not, however I LOVE to do them and have had GREAT success! (so far)

 So I'm just curious as to what other seasoned open housers think!!

 

Thanks so much and have a GREAT week!

Comments (8)

Nancy Kintner
Real Advantage Realty - Toledo, OH

Hi Erika,

I've attended Realtor Opens in the past and tomorrow I am hosting one for the first time!  From what I hear in my area, most are not too successful, however, in a strong buyers' market, sellers want to see you do everything possible to sell their home.

The home to be open tomorrow is quite lovely, newer, immaculate, well-built and with an outstanding view of a golf course.  I've been after them to let me stage their home and while they were at the lake yesterday, I turned up the volume on appearance.

However, it is easy to let time get the best of me, and here I am at the last minute calling and e-mailing invitations to other busy Realtors.

Because most of us may plan to attend a Realtor Open, we will usually drop the plan to spend time with a client.  So perhaps my last minute invitations may work out for the best........I'll let you know.

Sometimes title reps or lenders will help supply food.

I've won a lovely hanging basket of flowers from an open.

I heard someone purchased lottery tickets which he gave to Realtors in attendance.

Nancy Kintner

 

May 29, 2007 03:39 PM
Gail Robinson
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT
CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT
I've taken a different approach to Broker Open's in my area by holding progressive lunches.  In a tough market a cooperative approach with listing agents in nearby properties provides the best return from what I've experienced.
May 29, 2007 03:55 PM
KRISTINE CROWE
COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE - Dundalk, MD
I like Gail's approach with the progressive lunch. Better to work together than against each other in this market.
May 29, 2007 10:00 PM
Gail Robinson
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT
CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

Kristine, I agree.  This business is a complex mixture of competition and cooperation.  Agents who work in concert together in one area can draw buyer agents and the public to see their homes.

May 30, 2007 01:15 AM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel
it is usually agents from the office who go to suuport their colleague.Most agents are busy showing houses or prospecting. You might want to have a drawing for "Dinner for Two" .
May 30, 2007 01:22 AM
Joe Harris
Morgan Financial - Melbourne, FL

Great question.  Here are two blogs on the subject

How to hold a broker open house

The broker open house

May 30, 2007 01:25 AM
Jo Olson
HOMEFRONT Realty - Kettle Falls, WA
Retired - HOMEFRONT Realty @ LAKE Roosevelt

All depends on your area agents. In my market area the advertising is all done thru the MLS.  Certain areas on certain days. I always hold a "Broker's Open" the first week of a listing. It is in my marketing plan that is given to my sellers.  I entice the agents with food, money, and of course fun.  I have had "themed" opens where everyone dressed for whatever holiday there was and I gave a prize for best costume. Always fun at Halloween.  I have also held "80's style", "50's style" etc.

I am a fan of Open Houses - how do you think builders sell most of their product - yep Open Houses every day - so why not with resale :)

 Good Luck -

Jo

 

Jun 05, 2007 05:06 PM
Kimberly Dotseth
Blend Real Estate, broker/owner - San Diego, CA
Try Our "Cancel Anytime" Listing!

Erika, Yes we do broker open houses and never serve food. Ever! We do the same thing everytime:

We freeze 20 bottles of water overnight then take them out of the freezer at 8 AM. By open house time, they are pretty thawed and very cold. Those are served over two bags of crushed ice in a galvanized tub. The ice props them up but is not consumed. We do not have good MLS support for any open houses.  We email our contacts too.

We only ever use www.OpenHouseGenie.com for all our open house advertising. It's a very clean, professional, easy to use site. We pay $10 for an ad that runs seven days.  We use them for broker opens all the time.  You can add photos, virtual tour, link to your personal website and all your contact information is very easy for the open house visitor. I have had a lot open house visitors come to me from this site.  I know it's in San Diego and I talked to the owner who says they're expanding nationally and looking for five other cities.  We used to use the Union Tribune but one small open house ad starts at $132! Insane.  The death of papers is here, which is too bad because I read my religiously with coffee every morning.

We do six signs. That tends to be our magic number. Placed strategically for best exposure but never on private property ~ that's just my rule. I also put it on Craigslist the SECOND before I leave the house to get everything opened. That way it's top of the list...sort of. But I love the Genie site best.

We get so much business from open houses it's crazy! They work!  You have to get a lot of forces to in your favor at once like signs, advertising, the Internet, and a friendly attitude.  Broker opens I do to meet my colleagues, but they tend to be less productive ironically.

Good luck!

Kimberly Dotseth

broker/owner

Green Box Homes

Jul 17, 2008 03:23 PM