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Open Houses Do they Work or Are They A Waste of Time?

By
Real Estate Agent with A Better Realty .Net

 

Open Houses do they work?

 

I was at a group the other day and we were talking about ways to improve our business.  There were several ideas: calling, door knocking, mailing, email blasts, personal visits, and Open Houses.   The open house idea was met with disapproval.   I was surprised and another agent was too, she said that she had a lull in her business so she did some open houses, and her business picked up.  I do open houses I have great success with them; I guess it depends on your mind set and how you prepare for open house.

 

Open House

Here is my mindset for open houses; I get to meet new people, buyers, sellers, and renters.  Grow that data base.  The house looks great for the open, smells good all the lights are on, easy for other agents to show.  Yes, I encourage everyone to my open houses; I have had Buyers come without their agent.  Now hold on…… my job, is to sell the home!  My client is the home owner, so yes; I welcome buyers without their agent.  We can’t be with our Buyers every second of every day.   NO, I do not claim procuring cause; I was hired to sell the home. 

 

Now to make an open house a success, do not for get to advertise in the MLS system, on the internet, Active rain is a great place to let people know you are having an open house.  Get the word out and don’t forget your signs. The most important ingredient for a great open house is YOU, meet and greet the people with great zest, have fun and enjoy!

 

Do not be that agent that has been sleeping on the sofa, or has the ball game on so loud you can hear it when you get out of the car.   If you are taking the time to do an open house then do it, get some business from it, be professional… my buyers make comments about the agent sleeping on the sofa… and yes they know!

 

I would love to hear how you get yourself set up for an open house. Do they work for you?  Is there another twist that I should be using?

 

They do for me… I will keep doing open houses; maybe I will see you at the next one!

 

 Lisa

 

Linda Urbick
RealtyOne Group - San Ramon, CA
Selling San Ramon Valley - 925-786-5132

Lisa - Yes open houses work. I do them regularly and not just on my own listings. As you mentioned it is a great way to meet people and connect. I had a couple that came thru didn't seem too interested and said they were just "looking". About two months later they called me and said "will you be our agent--we enjoyed you so much we want to work with you".  You just never know so always be at your best as potential sellers coming thru may be interviewing agenst as well.

Aug 20, 2011 07:09 AM
Alan Kirkpatrick
Austin Texas Homes - Round Rock, TX
Alan in Austin

Lisa:

Nice post. I like open houses and do believe they work in a numbe of ways.

Aug 20, 2011 07:12 AM
Lorraine & Gilbert Marchany
Prudential Fox & Roach, Realtors - South Brunswick, NJ
The Marchany Home Selling Team

Lisa

i am a big booster of open houses having sold my first home several years ago on my first open house. It is a pillar of our marketing plan. 

Aug 20, 2011 07:17 AM
Pam Miller
Realty Associates - Conroe, TX
Broker Associate - Water Crest on Lake Conroe

Lisa - I know many agents have great success with open houses ---I can't stand them!

Aug 20, 2011 07:20 AM
Jennifer Chiongbian
Specializing in all types of Manhattan apts & townhouses - Manhattan, NY
Real Estate Broker - NYC

Open houses are a great, quick, and cheap way to pick up some new business and keep you busy.  I wish I had an open house to run each weekend!

Aug 20, 2011 07:24 AM
Lisa Hanawalt
A Better Realty .Net - Mesa, AZ

Linda - great post, we are on the same page

Alan -  agents need to hear it more!

Lorraine- I would love to hear more about the  open house in your marketing plan.

Pam-  I have heard this before, that is why some people door knock.  :-)

Jennifer - ask someone in your office if you can sit there listing open.

Thank you everyone for responding I am really enjoing the Active Rain Community.

Aug 20, 2011 07:41 AM