Giving Your Name Doesn't Obligate You

People are rather dishonest when they feel they will be chased and spammed.  Engage them in conversation, and then pop the question if they are working with an agent.

On the buyers side I only work with Buyers who I have a signed buyers agreement with.  I tell them that they go to an open house just tell the agent they are already woring with a broker.    

When doing an open house, I like getting feedback from people on what they think about the house.  

Rebecca, great advice and reminders! I require a Sign-In Sheet at all of my Open Houses.

I ask people to sign in as a security precaution for sellers.  If they don't want to leave their name I'm probably going to be a little more wary of them walking around the house unaccompanied by an agent.

I think this is a great post. I try to educate the buyers and make sure they sign in with my name and also let me know if they have been to an open house so I can follow up with them and with the listing agent.

When people will not give their names then I just have them leave. Why should a homeowner leave their home and allow strangers in who nobody knows. It is dangerous and also very rude of the customer.

I believe in a sign-in sheet in respect to the sellers who allow people to walk through their homes. However, we all receive way too much solicitation mail (my belief), that in respect to the buyers visiting the open house, I do mention the sign-in sheet but am not pushy. I realize they want to avoid the onslaught of this type of solicitation. I look for an opportunity in the openess of conversation to engage the buyer further.

If owners no longer live in the house and have moved their personal belongings I'm less inclined to need everyone's name. If the owners do still live in the house it's more likely I'll have a sign in sheet. More importantly, I engage everyone and I ask them for their name, by extending my hand and introducing myself, "Hi I'm Frank Castaldini. Any you are? Nice to meet you. The seller has requested that visitor sign in. Please take a moment to do so, and your welcome to tour the house."

Good info. Thanks for taking time to share w/ us.

Great information and perfect "Why's" to leave your contact information. This has always been a challenge. Many people make it a game to ignore your request.  I use Open Home Pro which allows people to sign in on an iPad and that is kind of cool.The good news is that it goes directly into my database and sends out a followup email when the OH is over.  Automazation is key to efficiency.

I will also NOT allow people into the home unless they sign in. I had one very angry couple refuse to sign in and I wouldn't let them in the house using the logic that I have a ficuciary responsibility to my client to let them know who has been in their home.  I asked them if that wouldnt be something they would appreciate if I was selling their home. Some people are just angry and I was happier rejecting them.

Hi Rebecca, we find it harder and harder to get feedback from agents showings homes, much less the buyer.

One of the many things I dislike about Open Houses... buyers lying about representation and providing false information, but they certainly won't accept that from any of us!

Hi Rebecca,

I recently had one and 12 groups showed up. I had a simple sign in sheet with their name, cell, and email and everyone signed in. The Realtors of course signed in for their clients and I didn't have anyone complaining. But in the past I have had people refuse and I told them if they didn't want to sign in, they could not tour the home so they did. Of course they could have given me a bogus name but it is just the polite thing to do when you are walking inside someone's home...I think so anyway. Great post!

Rebecca... if I were a "buyer" wanting to come through an open house, and the Realtor inside INSISTED on my name... I would have just written down Minnie T Mouse, and walked in.  Most buyers are just very tired of being hounded by some of the agents who hold open houses.

I also know, from reading it on Active Rain, that there are some states where those agents who hold open houses... are NOT to be looking for other buyer-clients.  Fifty states... and at least fifty different ways of doing things...

Requesting or insisting that guests sign in with their contact information could be perceived as intrusive and only fuels more skepticism generally about Realtors. Most visitors to open houses are reluctant to provide any personal information unless they are serious about the property or getting additional services from a Realtor.

When prospects want service, I always get their permission to contact them and follow up immediately to confirm their contact information is accurate. Regardless, you'll discover that some contact information is illegitimate, yet I often wonder why some people would take the time to provide bogus information?

Just one more evidence of the fact that our society has forgotten about common courtesy.  People don't have a 'right' to look at someone else's home, if asked for a name they should provide it.  I'm about ready to start asking to see a driver's license before I'll let them in.

I've used two app's on the iPad that make it easy to get names and info. The current one sends them a free Market Snapshot, so I get their email at least. I used to give away chances for free food, etc... This works better.

because of so many bad experiences, i seldom provide my real contact information.  I opt to contact the agent if I am interested

Travis, please send me the free food.  I'll tell you all you want to hear.  Heck, I'll even make stuff up, if you wish.  LOL.

Great post, which gives me some great ideas.  Most ask for names at open houses, but I feel the person out first.  After reading this post, I think if you have a brief note on why you want the information, people might give it a little more freely.