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How to Have a Succefful Open House

By
Real Estate Agent with RSVP Real Estate

Yesterday I held an Open House and got a great turn out.  Lots of people came to view the home. There were 2 buyers with a sense of urgency to find a home because they had just sold their home and needed a place to live!

The best way to have a successful Open House is to advertise on the internet and post lots of signs.  I posted the Open House on the MLS, my website www.hafenrealestate.com and Tour Factory. 

Tour Factory is a great tool that provides fullly customized lively virtual tours of your listings.  it has great syndication and the Tour Factory posts to several web sites:  Trulia.com, Zillow.com, YouTube.com, Yahoo Real Estate Classifieds, and Homes.com to name a few. 

I then went out to Zillow, Redfin and Truila to make sure the Open House was posted and the pictures of the home appears on the listings.

I also put up a few directional signs early in the week that said "Open House Sunday 1-4" as well as a ryder that said "Open Sunday 1-4" on the owners For Sale Sign. 

It pays to advertise several days before on-line at Redfin, Zillow, and Trulia etc. and with directional signs.  Several of our guests said they foud out about the Open House via Redfin and Zillow.  The afternoon of the Open House, I put up several Open House Signs (A boards) from about a mile from the home in both directions.

I had our guests sign into a register once they came into the home.  In the kitchen, by the register, I had soft drinks on ice, gourmet cookies (chocolate chip, oatmeal, and peanut butter) and a bowl of chocolates.  My guests couldn't resist signing in to get a cookie and a soft drink.

All in all it was a very successful Open House.  Hopefully the Open House will turn out to be a win-win or eveybody!

Anonymous
Lou

Hi Amy.  In your opinion, what percentage of buyers end up being the result of an open  house?  For families it can be very inconvenient, since they have to pick up the kids and leave for several hours.  You sound like you're doing everything right when they are held.  Are they worth it?

Lou (from Woodinville)

May 24, 2010 04:44 AM
#1
Amy Hafen
RSVP Real Estate - Woodinville, WA

Statistically finding a buyer at an Open House is very low (I think I read it is 3%).  But never say never!  i owned a condo in Kirkland and the last person to my Open House was our buyer.  I may have found my buyer yesterday.  I will keep you posted via my blog.

It can be inconvenient for the owner to leave for 3-4 hours.  But once they list their home it is now a product and no longer "their home."  I encourage my owners to plan a family outing during the Open House.  So they planned to go to lunch and visit the Seattle Aquarium for the afternoon.  Maybe it is a good thing for them to go out as a family as opposed to doing the usual routine?

 

May 24, 2010 04:58 AM