Whine! Moan! I Held An Open House And Only The Nosy Neighbors Showed Up!

Pat - I have no real issue with the neighbors coming by to see my OH. Lots of times they do have friends. Of course it can be frustrating feedback for a seller to have to say that only the neighbors came by.

When I have a new listing I generally invite all the neighbors to the first open house with a flyer or walking around the area and knocking on doors. If we use the opportunity to talk with people and educate them about the market then this can be a good thing.

Jeff

Hi, Pat - I love nosy neighbors. They have friends, colleagues - sometimes they send me a buyer they met in a grocery store line or buying clothes.  When it's in a neighborhood where you've sold a lot of homes, it also can be a "mobile office" where clients from past transactions stop to say hello and get a market update.

I make a special effort to invite neighbors, assuring them that since they know the advantages of the location and the neighborhood, I'd like them to see the home and help their neighbors by telling others.    I meet interesting people this way.   I'll have neighborhood information, market analysis, etc. with me and when they see how I market their neighbor's house, often a listing follows, or they tell their friends somewhere else and I get that one.   I keep them on my email list.   It's been good business, in addition to the fact that sometimes open houses do sell those houses.

If you love open houses...you gotta come to Baltimore this weekend.

Margaret

I hold open houses for the same reason as you - meeting people.  You really never know who you will meet that eventually may want to work with you.  I don't rely only on the on-line presence as I really think that there is a personal touch that you just can't replicate electronically.  My on-line stuff will help the real people that I meet get to know me more when they decide to do more homework after meeting me.

What a success story!  I hate open houses, but with all these wonderful success stories and helpful tips, I'm slowly being converted to rethink my position on the dangers of open houses.....   hhhmmmm...

Are nosy buyers and  nosy Realtors also welcomed? When does a prospect stop being a nosy neighbor and start being a client?

(This is of course, a rhetorical question but you get my point.)

Love nosy neighbors as well.  Pat, also love your idea of an "open" by invitation only for the nosy neighbors (almost like a block party). 

Neighbors can be great.  Most want the home to sell and at a good price.  They can also suggest the property to friends and family they would like to have nearby.

Say it ain't so?

Another time, the "nosy" neighbors were nosy indeed.  They were nosing around to check out, not the house, but me!

So true. That has happened to me several times and I did get the listings.  I always look at open houses as another way to meet future sellers or to get more information about the immediate area.  Who knows the street better than the people that live there?  I love it when a chatty nosy neighbor comes over and fills me in on how long people have lived there, #/ages of kids on street, the 90 yr. old that should be going to a nursing home soon..... 

It's a win/win, you meet more people and learn more details about the area.  I know I look like the neighborhood "expert" when I can tell buyer prospects "owners love it here so much Smith's added on 2 yrs ago, and so/so just moved one street over for a bigger home, Joe put in a pool".....all stuff the nosy neighbors told me!

Hi Pat,  Excellent insight into the art of doing a successful open house !   Amazing how many agents don't see a nosy neighbor as a possible lead.

I like your idea of having the house open on Saturday for neighbors.

Agreed, Agreed!  Bring on the neighbors.  Also, they are a great resource because the CARE who will be living in the house and are looking for a buyer with you!

Pat:

People will not hire you if they have never met you, and an Open House is one of the ways of meeting people.

Ty

To add to this - I have heard agents complain that their flyers are taken from the outside information boxes by "just the neighbors."  Well, they have your name and # on them and you get name recognition.  You can be sure my information boxes are FILLED!!!  Less inexpensive than snail mail flyers and as mentioned, the neighbors just might have friends or family who want to be in that neighborhood. 

Pat - I just reblogged this post but wanted to add a comment as well.  I think you have great ideas and really think outside the box.

In my reblog I mentioned an agent in my office who recently held one of my listings open and did not get any information from the neighbors who showed up.  I was surprised that she missed this opportunity to get contact information from someone and even strange to me is that she was a managing broker when she lived in another state! 

Great post and sometimes we agents forget we are in SALES!!!  Like others here have said, i LOVE the idea of a special open house for the neighbors....fantastic idea!  And as comment #41 Cynthia pointed out, knowing all the "skinny" from the neighbors does make you a true neighborhood expert..Love that too! 

Just love how much i learn and grow with all you fabulous active rainers!

annie

I've seen the "nosy neighbors" slink in and actually apologize for being there. (Many do come purely out of curiosity).  Inviting them and making them feel welcome is such a great idea.

I don't mind open houses at all. I have found many clients at them. Neighbors usually tell me some useful information about the area.