Are Open Houses worth the risk? I'm not so sure, what do you think?

Open hosues are always worth the risk of getting another buyer or seller to walk through the house.

I tell my sellers to get everything of value out of the house before it is listed.  Things can go missing when another agents shows the house as well.  Open Houses are required in most sellers minds and I do think many buyers like to go look at several houses at a time so open houses work for that reason

The agent should have instructed the seller at the time the property was listed about removing valuables, checks, credit card statements and prescriptions prior any showings or an open house.  It certainly may be that the seller did not adhere to the agent's suggestions.

I am with Leolinda.  Doon't leave valuables and medication around in an open house.

I don't agree that open houses don't sell houses.  Here in L.A., as I am won't to spout often, we don't put lockboxes on our homes, we show them.  People have time weekends to tour a home and I am not sure how we would go about showing 30+ people a week a listing on individual bases.  And, our business is all about meeting people and growing our base.  Finding buyers at open houses is a huge part of that business.  That is where I found all my buyers while selling the house I had listed.

Hi Janna...

I only do Open Houses when the property is vacant.  For showings, if there's a tenant or owner occupied.. It's stictly by appointment only.  One of my listings, the owner was elderly so I made sure I accompanied all showings... just to make the seller (and probably myself!! LOL) feel more at ease.

~ Vienna

Yup, you gotta put stuff away. Most are good people. some are snakes. Never had a problem. Now people can have monitors so you can record secretly.

The topic is definitely controversial with advocates on both sides defending their views. I think there are many factors that need to be considered: the location of the property, asking price, local events competing for buyer traffic, and local 'custom'. The safety factor just isn't over the client's valuables; it also extends to the personal safety of the agent as well.

I agree with Mike, so much depends on the local "custom".   You do your best to protect your seller and yourself during open houses.  Even if the house doesn't get sold as a direct result of an open house, it gets advertised and marketed.  That exposure, together with the possibility of  picking up new buyers, makes the open house worthwhile.

How do check thieves clean someone out so quickly?  They are surely not writing checks to pay their own ongoing personal bills of record.  Few merchants will cash checks from other than known customers.  Most retail chains are linked to computer services that keep close tabs on check writers - especially those writing checks across many chains in a single day.  I'm afraid I don't understand this narrow aspect of the wider Open House security danger.

As Leolinda said that is one of the things I go over with people when I first do the listing.  All valuables must be removed or put out of sight.  Medications, keys, money, jewelery, etc...This way it can never be stolen during a showing or open house.