Why You Need an Open House
A public open house is a critical piece to marketing your home, especially if you need to do showings by appointment only. Your listing agent has the responsibility to get your home the most exposure to the public as possible, and while tools like Zillow and Trulia are great for online marketing, they don’t get people in the door like an open house will.
The open house is a coordinated event with you, the owner that allows the public to freely view your home with or without an agent during the timeframe of your choosing. It reduces the pressure on you as the owner to ready your house with little or no notice, and it provides freedom to the potential buyer to preview the home in a more leisurely manner. It’s essentially a win-win situation for both parties. Here are some frequently asked questions I get about open houses.
Do open houses only attract neighbors?
Not always. Keep in mind, though, that your neighbors are your friends. The more neighbors who know about your property, the more likely they will tell their friends and family about your listing.
Are public open houses always scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays?
No. However, many open houses are scheduled on Sunday afternoons to prevent conflicts with weekend and religious activities. Open houses can be scheduled any time of the week that works for you and makes sense for potential buyers. The time of day is also flexible. It’s a good idea to listen to the recommendations of your listing agent and coordinate a date and time that works best for you and for your potential buyers.
Is it important for a listing agent to offer food at an open house?
No. If a listing agent has a unique or desirable property listing, the open house will be very busy — especially if the house has been professionally staged. It’s best not to have food at a public open house. You spent a lot of time and effort readying your home for the open house, and you probably don’t want to go through sweeping up a day’s worth of crumbs and spills after it’s over. A small dish of candy and perhaps a bottle of water are considered gracious and all you really need to offer for a regular open house.
If your listing agent is planning a broker’s open house, usually simple luncheon food is provided. Why do you provide food for brokers? Because you want your listing agent to keep brokers on site to gain as much feedback as possible to understand the positioning and the perceived value, architectural flaws and overall perception of the property by other pros. This information will help your agent make adjustments to tweak your listing in a more favorable light. You want them to share their property experience with other agents who may have a buyer for your property. Food encourages people to stay a little longer and talk.
Do public open houses and broker opens always work?
No. They are simply additional marketing tools for your agent to use to provide exposure to your property. Listen to your listing agent about recommendations to determine if a public open house or broker’s open will work best, given the location of the property and time the property is being offered.
If you would like more information on open houses or anything else related to residential real estate, contact Jacobson Realty and Home Staging. We’d be happy to answer any questions.
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