10 Tips for Making an Open House WorkBy Barbara Pronin
With 92 percent of buyers using the Internet in their home search,* the value of open houses has been debated among today’s real estate professionals. It’s a full day’s work that includes marketing, preparing materials, placing and removing signs, and assessing the interest of neighbors, strangers, serious buyers, and lookie-loos with nothing else to do.
However, the benefits are clear-- it does put your face and expertise in front of people you might not otherwise meet. For agents like Lynne Eliopoulos, a 26-year industry veteran currently with ERA Key Realty Services in Framingham, Mass., open houses remain a vital source of business. “With today's depleted inventory, the success of an open house isn't whether or not you get an offer – which, of course, is ideal – but rather, making the right impression on unrepresented buyers who are serious about finding a home. If you can show them a reason to trust and rely on you, they will see you as sincere, know you will notify them whenever something appropriate becomes available, and be there for them during the buying process." For savvy agents everywhere, the key to success is in orchestrating an open house that works. Here are ten tips that may help:
Barbara Pronin is an award-winning writer based in Orange County, Calif. A former news editor with more than 30 years of experience in journalism and corporate communications, she has specialized in real estate topics for over a decade. |
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