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Broker's Opens and Caravans..are these really working?

By Cindy Westfall

Real Estate Agent with Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon

July 11, 2011 04:51 AM

Broker's Opens and Caravans..are these still working?

Broker open house Years ago when that old blue book was around (before my time in real estate), Broker's opens on a caravan tour were an easy way to preview a new listing. Now, with so much online and at our fingertips, do agents really go out and tour anymore? Ok..I know they do, but are they an affective way of spending your time?

I know most of the time, when there is a broker tour on caravan, it's now more for support of the agent in the office. The upsides to me of a broker tour nowadays is mainly for agents to learn areas, see home models in neighborhoods and see the new listings as they come on the market.

You also might get that occasional neighbor popping over or someone driving and seeing the signs that decides to take a tour that isn't an agent.

I'm finding though that more and more lately, very few agents come through. So here you sit for two hours of your time with food that you put out entice the masses. Now I'm seeing gift cards as well being offered as enticement. (Hmm...great odds being one of two agents that show for that one). I know when I have a buyer, I already know what's on the market through the MLS and will scedule a preview or showing when the time is more convenient for me and my client.

Here is Portland, the main tour list is just for the Portland metro area..so if your listing is in the surrounding suburbs, there is currently no list that goes to all the offices for this. Your only recourse is to send e-mails out and put it on the MLS. Now honestly..how many of you delete those e-mails that fill your inbox. As I said, chances are..if you have clients looking in those neighborhoods, you already know about the new listing.

Are you finding that Broker's opens are still working? Are you getting more than 2 agents coming through..or are they really one of those dinasoars that will go the way of that big blue book?

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Mary Stewart

HomeTrust Real Estate, LLC, Homes for Everyone - Wilsonville, OR

Wilsonville and Surrounding Portland Metro Areas

Hi Cindy,

I had always felt that Broker's Opens were a great thing to have and I still do if only the Realtors will show up. What I have found is that a lot of offices will not go out of their way to go to a lot of Broker Opens. Should your listing be in the suburbs the likelyhood of the Realtors showing up is small. I hold them, but like you find that it sometimes gets very lonely even when wine, giftcards, food is offered.

The internet has changed lots of things, and to tell you the truth I do remember the book. When I first started in Real Estate that is the only thing we had. We thought we were pretty smart as an office when the MLS started sending listings through a machine that was like a fax machine with a printout of all of the new listings, price changes, etc. they came out on pin paper so you could put them in the binders to look at. Large they were.

Mary

Jul 11, 2011 09:35 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi David, That is one of the major upsides...to be able to see a home first hand. I just wish when you hold one here that more agents would come through. It's always nice when they're busy! I've been in some homes previewing for my clients where the pics made the home look WAY better than the reality. My pics were able to capture the dirt and mold..but couldn't capture the smell..LOL.

Jul 11, 2011 03:44 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Mary, I think with more and more agents working from home, there isn't that "team spirit" as much as their used to be so many Broker's Opens are fairly quiet..especially the ones out in the burbs. I still do them, but always wonder if they are just going away. Perhaps if there was a special tour for the areas not covered in the main tour, we would see more action.

Oh..I remember those thin fax machine rolls of paper. We sure have come a long way! I look back on some of those contracts and it's a wonder you can even read them.

Jul 11, 2011 03:48 PM

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate

John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR

"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

We have only occasional broker tours, but they're so much fun and really effective for our little group out here! We usually get about 6 agents (sometimes more/less) altogether and they are from several different agencies and even p/u some from surrounding towns. We have food at some of them or do a local p/u of take out or (even better) plan for a de-briefing and a glass of vino in the late afternoon to top it off! Because we're spread out, it can take several hours if there is a lot to see.

Jul 11, 2011 06:18 PM

Jill Sackler

Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY

LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

Out here, usually we get a bunch of agents from our own office who come by to show support but not agents from other offices. There's pressure to have lunch, etc. or you're likely to sit by yourself for a couple of hours.

Jul 12, 2011 01:41 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Gayle..now that does sound like a good day! I had one today, had one agent that followed the signs, another that called to schedule a showing and I said it was going to be open, and a neighbor. Not many agents come out in the burbs for these things. Much more activity usually closer in.

Jul 12, 2011 03:52 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Jill, Yep, about the same. In my old office, it was usually the same group that went around and supported each other, but not much of other offices. Everytime I do them when they're not on the main tour, I always say after that I won't do em again...but there I sat today. At least I was able to get some work done on my computer.

Jul 12, 2011 03:56 PM

Mary Yonkers

Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA

Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Cindy--Yes, I remember all those things from the old days, but guess what? Many of those things worked. I remember seeing a new listing on tour in the morning; showing it to my clients in the afternoon and writing a contract by evening. SOLD!!!!

If I worked for Home Depot, I better be familiar with the inventory. I think that same philosophy follows through in real estate. You have to see the product inside and outside in its own surroundings. The internet is great, but it's not reality.

Fortunately now I work for company that believes in tour. Our agents tour and we sell more of our own listings so we don't complain when the co-brokes don't come.

Jul 13, 2011 01:01 AM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Mary, exactly! This is why I wonder why or if they are going by the wayside..since the attendance is low...even from my own office or company. Pictures on the MLS can't show you the feel of the house, the scent, the way the house shows..and of course the surroundings as they can easily be cropped. It is good and necessary for an agent to know the inventory. I'm glad they're still working in your neck of the woods.

Jul 13, 2011 04:22 AM