There is a Wrong Way to hold an Open House
There are many opinions about open houses .... this is one and the story is a lesson for everyone ... buyers - seller and agents!
A friend attended an open house hosted by a competitor and, over coffee, shared his experience. This is what he told me.
He said: "As soon as we pulled up, the Realtor came out of the house to greet us. The first thing she said (before introducing herself) was 'I know that the house is overpriced!' We didn't respond and she continued, 'Come in and see it anyway!'
So we went into the house. As we walked through the house, she followed us around, talking constantly. But she wasn't telling us about the house - she was telling us why we should hire her as our agent!"
"It was really annoying," our friend told us.
"Did she ask if you were working with an agent?" I asked him.
He was surprised. "No. All she wanted to do was tell us why we should work with her."
"Did she ask for your contact information?" I asked.
"No."
"Did she ask what you thought of the house?"
"No, she told us she would help us find the right house because this one was overpriced."
Our Open House technique is different. We'll greet buyers in the driveway by introducing ourselves and asking for their name in return.
The next question we always ask is, "Are you working with an agent?" Ethically, we can't solicit business from a buyer who is working with an agent.
- If the answer is "Yes," then our reply is that they are welcome to tour the house and to please ask us if they have any questions. We also ask them to sign in and give us the name of their agent so we can follow up with them.
- If the answer is "No," then our response is to ask them questions - how long they've been looking for a home, where they're living now, what are they looking for in a home, and so on - as we escort them through the house, pointing out the salient features. After the tour, we ask for their contact information and promise to follow up, which we usually do within the hour.
There are tens of thousands of real estate agents in New Jersey. If you find one that isn't responsive and professional, switch.
~ Wayne & Jean
Union County, NJ - a great place to live and work!
If you're looking to buy or sell a property in Union County, call us at 908-917-4189 or email TeamZuhl@gmail.com.
All opinions, information and data provided is deemed reliable but is subject to errors and omissions. Not intended to solicit other Brokers' clients. We cooperate with them fully.
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