Beware: Active Rain Addiction Day 4-Holding A Productive Open House

Beware: Active Rain Addiction Day 4-Holding A Productive Open House  There has been constant debate over Public Open Houses ever since I was a weeeee Real Estate agent back in the day.  Some agents feel that these Open Houses are only a good way to attract buyers for other homes and therefore are not really for the benefit of the listing client.  However, there are those agents who have sold homes through Public Open Houses and believe they are another avenue to sell homes.  I have to admit that my success rate over the years was near the national average success rate of 3-5% until I decided to start holding "Proactive Open Houses".  There are a number of ingredients that go into having "Proactive Open Houses".  My proactive Open Houses have been much more successful!!!!

1. Send out about 100 Open House postcard invitations to the immediate surrounding area.  These "Open House Premiere" invitation postcards invite the neighbors to come to a premiere a half hour before it is open to the public.  I always mention that "this is your chance to help choose your new neighbors"

2. Use the internet extensively-Realtor.com, Craigslist, Trulia,  Postlets, MLSPulse, Zillow, Listingbook etc.....

3. See The Signs--- Set out as many Open House signs as possible to draw attention to it.  Balloons filled with helium are also a good way to attract attention so attach them to the signs. 

4. Piggyback on local events---If there is church getting out, a parade ending up or a busy supermarket then place Open House signs from them to your Open House.

5. Call Arounds---call as many of the neighbors as possible to personally invite them to the "Open House Premiere"

6. Traffic, traffic, traffic---if there is a busy traffic pattern then that is a good reason to try Open Houses at different times and on different days.

I'm sure that there are other great ideas on Open Houses and I'd be more than happy to hear some. God Bless and Happy Selling!