Yes, I believe so, Jeff! I am getting those calls too.

I also believe that many are realizing the importance of Open Houses - especially in today's market. I attended one today and got to talking to one of the agents that was hosting the open. While we chatted, at LEAST 25 people came through...and IT'S WEDNESDAY! 

They had a greeter at the door, who signed everyone in and got their contact information and two others took who were there to tour the home, through the home - one upstairs and one downstairs. It was very organized...and likely a very successful Open House!

It is a sign of the market most likely Jeff.  I've seen it before many times over the years.  When I first began in the biz I used to love holding other agents (from my office) open. It was accepted practice. 

Jeff Dowler, CRS - I have experienced this with agents I know and from my Brokers Office and consented;  but not someone I did not know. 

Because of the market we are in, I do think agents are desperate to get buyers now and will offer to hold Open House. I would want to meet the person and conduct an interview to get more information. If it sounded legit and I could get verification, I would get the Seller's permission. Then, if they were holding the Open House, I would make a point to pop in to see how they are doing. 

I've had those calls from time to time for a long time. In the past few years, my homes have sold so quickly there's been no time to organize and open house. Most of my clients ask they I not hold open houses. I don't love the idea of someone who doesn't know much about my listing to "sit" a house. If there's going to be an open house I prefer to do it. But if I were to approve an open house by another agent, it would only be an agent in my own brokerage.

I don't like doing open houses myself so I will often see if someone wants to hold one of my listings open.

Hi Jeff,
It is definitely a sign of the current market, obviously agents with no listings or buyers. Back to Walmart or waiting tables.

This used to be a common practice within a brokerage but definitely not from outside agents. That would be a hard "No."

     If it's that popular, why is it still on the market and not under contract? Sounds like too many buyer agents in the market and too little inventory priced right like your in demand listing. Load up with more real estate listing ammo like it and be ready to sell sell sell.

     Open houses don't happen in smaller rural markets. People want on demand, right now open house videos for their busy over booked lives. Many are far away, hundreds of miles distant and they want the agent to deliver the facetime walk through after the original full motion you are there video.

     Don't have boatloads of agents coming out of the woodwork Jeff Dowler, CRS . Whether to do it or not. Good luck and let us know how it all turns out, how you decide to handle it and why. 

It must be a really good listing if they all want to be there to meet potential buyers!

Definitely common within our brokerages here, but not by agents outside the brokerage. I encourage new agents to hold open houses on my listings if they are looking to be proactive.

We were advised by attorney not to do that. Too many risks. I think both brokers and sellers would have to approve, and who's responsible if something gets broken, stolen, or someone gets hurt on property?

same company?  I encourage my sellers/agents to allow inside sharing of listings.  It's a great benefit to newer agents to get to sit an open.

Oh it's definitely a sign of the current market...!  One of our recent company calls actually made this suggestion.  No thanks. I say "no" to open events in all markets.    LOL

Definitely a sign of the times.  I wonder what icon/maven is teaching this now.  

I believe it is a sign of times. I am anticipating an exodus of agents in the coming months.

We allow it "in house" but not to agents outside of our office, and we're a small office so it wouldn't be someone we don't know, but an open might be held by someone other than the listing agent.

Throughout the years I have had other agents call and offer the service of hosting my vacant listings open Jeff Dowler, CRS 

My thoughts:  Hard no for a multitude of reasons that won't get into here - think liability, brokerage affiliation.  My risk management attorney agrees.

I have had another independent broker that I know, like, and trust sit with me at an open house to be there as a buyer agent, with my client's knowledge and approval, of course. 

I think this is a tactic by some alleged "coaches" or "gurus" who have never sold real estate being promoted to newly licensed agents to get some business. For me? It's a polite but hard no.

The market has changed, Jeff and some are playing catch up now, trying to bring much needed business! Would decline the offer from an agent(s) outside of my brokerage.

I know that at R/M we were not allowed to have others outside the company have anything to do with our listings. Seems odd that they are going after a vacant lot.

Today, more than ever, the "open" is an effective way to take the pulse of the market in your area and of course stir up some business. 

A good way to generate leads, and a good way to draw more attention to your listing.

A Win Win.

I have lots of agents calling me on my one listing to do open houses.  My seller does not want them.

Agents trying to get leads, yes increased in this market. I'm not an agent but I do open houses with buddy agents to be a bit more secure. 

If it was my house, I would expect my agent to know someone personally to trust them to hold the open in a careful manner. I would not give them keys, I would open the door and check on lock up. Holding it open might bring in a buyer.

I've been getting those calls for a few years.  I typically let the agents hold them open.

It's a sign of the times and happens here, too. When I was a new agent, I held open house for agents in my office. That is very common here but only with agents from your brokerage. I would never have someone from another brokerage sit open house, too much liability and risk for me.

Not very common here, but I do allow the agents I know to conduct my open houses , of course with the permission of the sellers, that are vacant since it is more exposure to my listing, why not? 

I take open houses of other agents when I do not have listings, why not to do the same for others when I'm not available to do that. 

Many trainers years ago suggested new agents farm for customers by doing open houses for experienced agents. Is it making a comeback? Made some experienced agents irritated back then and maybe again.

YES it is a sign of the current market, to answer your last question first.

One of my broker friends in LA got and probably still gets buyers from sitting other agents' open houses . . .

I would not want anyone sitting my OH and if I were a seller I would wonder why an agent from another office would be there without a buyer of their own!

I always have other agents do open houses at my listings. I make sure they're from my office and they're trained on how to do open houses. So, yes I sometimes have agents call to do an open house. 

Have not been accosted in this way... I would only allow agents either from my own firm or ones I know well do an open house for me.

I had a couple of listings this year, and I too got calls/texts/emails from agents wanting to hold open houses.    I have not allowed, and if one needs to be done, I do an open house with Laura.