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OPEN HOUSES -- What Many Listing Agents are Missing!

By
Industry Observer with RETIRED / State License is Inactive Inactive License Oregon

Sunday OPEN HOUSENot sure if Saturday or Sunday (or both) is the day / are the days of your areas traditional OPEN HOUSE.

Here, in Metro Portland Oregon, it's typically Sunday, although some agents will have a Saturday Open House, or BOTH weekend days.

But Sundays is the traditional / typical day.

Yesterday, as I'm doing a search of new listings, back on markets, price changes, etc. for clients I remember there's a function that my local MLS (multiple listing service) provides.  Among other handy tools (such as REVERSE Prospecting, searches done by map rather then area codes, etc.) there is an OPEN HOUSE data entry form that listing agents can use to post their OPEN HOUSE.

I thought I'd search and call up the opens for my buyers because today, being Father's Day, I won't be available to tour (so why is she posting?  Gotta get in my A/R fix . . . PLUS, this is a good blog subject and I don't want to forget to blog about it!)

There's only a few criteria to search for the OPEN HOUSES, plug in price, area and the dates . . . viola . . . all the open houses for my client's price range and location.  Then all I'd do is send over the nice list of opens and if they want to tour them, they can. 

They are very loyal to me, have signed the buyer's rep agreement and I know they wouldn't do anything but tour.  They would also find this handy.

And I'm getting all excited to think that I can send off a nice list of OPEN HOUSESjust in case the buyers want to tour and I'm not available (assuages my guilt!) 

Only 7 -- SEVEN -- OPEN HOUSES were posted!!

It's a FREE service!  The data entry fields are there and there's even a Y/N to indicate if food would be provided! 

Why wouldn't a listing agent post their OPEN HOUSES on their ML system (if it's available), is what I'd like to know!

(And for all those who post in the "Public Remarks" section that the home is open -- JUNE 7th! -- come on!  Change the date already!)

 

Posted by

 

 

Carla Muss-Jacobs has RETIRED effective May 1, 2018

Representing Buyers in the Portland Metro Real Estate Market | Clackamas Multnomah and Washington Counties | Since 1999

Carla Muss-Jacobs, REALTOR®, ABR, CEBA, ePro
Principal Broker/Owner ~~ INACTIVE

Carla Muss-Jacobs' retirement became effective May 1, 2018

Direct: 503-810-7192 

 

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Comments(6)

Anthony Stokes-Pereira
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Nanuet, NY
Realtor

Hi Carla;

Great post! Posting you Open House online is a great idea, thank you for sharing.

Jun 21, 2009 08:39 AM
Kim Curran
RE/MAX Unlimited of Northern Virginia - Bristow, VA

I wouldn't do an Open House without posting it in the MRIS/MLS system. Good reminder. Who doesn't love free advertising.

Jun 21, 2009 08:53 AM
Chanda Barrick
Keller Williams Indy Metro Northeast - Indianapolis, IN
in referral

Carla, that was one thing I was going to mention...while it's nice to have that feature, it's also frustrating because they don't update the info half the time.  I know our office has had the same open house notices in the system for years in some cases...I really wish they would clean it up! 

Chanda panda

Jun 21, 2009 12:46 PM
Tom Boos
Sine & Monaghan Realtors, Real Living - Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Providing the very best of service to Sellers and

Our local Board puts-together an Open House List each week that area Buyer really love.  It's complete, unlike the information available through the public site of the MLS. 

Jun 22, 2009 12:28 AM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Carla,

It does seem amazing the amount of outdated or incomplete information that exists in different systems in real estate.  especially now with so much information available online, it does seem that keeping the information organized to be able to be a distributor, not a gatekeeper, would be a top priority.

It would make sense to post open houses online and keep them up to date.

 

 

Jun 22, 2009 02:52 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Hi Anthony -- thanks for your comment, and your welcome!

Hey Kim, glad you liked the humor of the other post!  Hope you, Phil and your two boys had a nice Father's Day (I read your "About Me")

LOL Chandra -- I wish they'd clean it up too!

Hi Tom -- I think our board used to do that (print a list) but it's only as good as the input.  Not a lot of agents seems to take advantage of this

I agree, Rebecca!  It is amazing how much outdate info there is.  Trulia is a good (bad) example.  They never update, and/or make it very difficult for the general public to know what's what.  Post open house via the MLS is how I'm advocating!

Jun 22, 2009 05:49 AM