Why Have an Open House?

My real estate person told me she would like to hold my house OPEN this week-end.  I am thinking about it, but really why would I do that?  It is her job to sell my house and I have heard many people say that the agent only hosts open houses to get buyers and build her business.  I will have to clean the house, wash the windows,dust, vacuum, take the kids somewhere, bake something, sweep the porch....  it is just TOO much to ask, don't you think?  People don't buy an OPEN HOUSE, they just come to snoop and they might take something away.  That's right, isn't it? 

Okay, so you are right to some extent.  Real estate people do have open houses to advertise themselves and talk face to face with prospective clients.  But if the house is their listing, they are doing you a huge service by holding it open. 

 FOR THESE REASONS:

In the first place, the home should be "show ready" the majority of the time anyway.  If it isn't the open house is a great motivator to get things ship-shape.  A neat and clean, well-organized home just feels good whether it is for sale or not I think. 

The agent's office will most likely put a colored picture of your home in the paper with a description and all the pertinent information for a buyer.  It is another advertising opportunity in print and on-line.

Your neighbors or "lookie lous" may stroll through your home.  That gives your agent a chance to talk up your home and suggest they may want to help choose a new neighbor by telling their friends and colleagues about the home!  Other people come through for decorating ideas; they also can be a selling agent for you if they happen to know a prospective buyer.

When the house is all cleaned up and it's time to leave for a few hours it will feel like time well spent.  Something is happening that is positive in a rather down market with many homes on the market. There is a sign pointing to your home on the street calling attention to its availability.  Wow, that's a good thing.

Why have an Open House?  The answer is clear: to advertise your home and yes, to help your agent find a buyer. 

Comments

[Timberland Boots]

let's join our hands together to stop this kind of wrong doings. It may risk lives in the future if we just let them continue.

[Hugo Myllyniemi]

It is really weird to have a open house,agent should do a lot of thing to convince the seller not to do a open house,giving a trip to look for house is much better seeing the interior and exterior of your home must do by only 1 person who is really interested to house.well nice article.