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Rainmaker
2,220,654
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Flyer of the home, if there are other homes for sale in the neigborhood, I get information about those homes as well.

Feb 17, 2016 10:12 AM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Make sure all valuables and meds are secure, use rug or shoe protectors at front door, have a couple chairs at door so people can sit down to add or remove shoe protectors, check neighborhood listings and comps, have info fliers and business cards, sign in sheet, make sure all doors and windows are locked when done, turn lights on at start, mail post cards to neighbors, add open house rider to yard sign, directional signs, know how you will react if someone wants to make an offer, be presentable and polite-not pushy, thank people for visiting, etc. Always think safety and security.

Feb 17, 2016 05:38 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Start by getting dressed

Feb 17, 2016 05:30 AM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Listing brokerage.

Dec 01, 2019 09:38 AM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

Listing agent. You got great answers. I found some useful information for me too. 

Dec 01, 2019 09:12 AM
Rainmaker
608,881
Mitchell J Hall
Manhattan, NY
Lic Associate RE Broker - Manhattan & Brooklyn

For me the objective is always to sell the home that day.  I may get buyers and other seller from OH but my purpose is always to sell the home. Open houses are an important part of my marketing strategy for listings and often only one open house is needed to receive multiple bids on the property. I advertise OH on all major RE websites and portals and to brokers.  I give out show sheets with property data, photos, description and floor plan, financial sheet with mortgage scenarios from lender, I have sign in sheets and/or I use Open House pro on my iPad. I make sure everyone who attends signs in. 

Open houses seem to work better in large metro areas. You should do well with open houses in Rockville MD since they work in DC.

Feb 17, 2016 01:13 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Familiarize myself with other listings and sales in the neighborhood.

Feb 17, 2016 10:53 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Lights are on, no ones home, clean & tidy, flyers, sign-in book, unlock doors.

 

Occupied homes: valuables/meds/personal items/"naughty time" items put away and toilets flushed.

Feb 17, 2016 09:34 AM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Flyers, mortgage payment at different loan types, community information, schools, several purchase offers 

Feb 17, 2016 08:48 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

What is the PURPOSE to which this open house intends?

Without a purpose, preparation means a good book or other busy work.

This is your first open house, so why not start with a 2016 type open house rather than the relic from 1986.

What does YOUR business need? Buyers you can work with? Owner who needs help selling their house? Just a list of names with email addresses? Information? Actually sell that house?  If it is not your listing, the latter is not the obvious option.

Pick a purpose.

Create the collateral that allows visitors to self-select and indicate where their interests are today. Such planning means the exit interview is crucial.

Unfortunately, without trained associates to implement your purposed open house, you not only lose the exit interview but expose the house and yourself to potential harm.

My recommendation, if this is the houses FIRST open house, conduct a 'get more listings' purposed open house. If there have been 15 open houses preceding yours, go for the build a list or get information purposed open house.

Your preparations can be leveraged for future open houses. Invest the time to create your open house system, and train your business partners (lender,title rep, inspector, assistant, significant other) regarding the role they must play and the security issues present.

Then an open house becomes a lead generator instead of a time waster. As you can read, most agents have NOT figured it out.

Now, once the 'purpose' issue is resolved, next comes  how to promote the open house. That is an entirely different discussion.

Feb 17, 2016 05:55 AM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

Do you mean how I prepare the house and listing materials, or are you thinking food and beverages?

Feb 17, 2016 04:59 AM
Rainmaker
617,935
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

Desmond,
Each of the great points that Jeff Pearl gave you are also reasons not to do an open house. The liability and danger of letting just anyone off the street into a client’s house is too great and a danger to the agent. 

Feb 18, 2016 04:14 AM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good morning Desmond. Like Jeff said, make sure all valuables are secure.

Feb 17, 2016 05:22 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Desmond,

I agree with all the bright people who gave you suggestions here.  The Active Rain community is a great place to ask questions.  A

Feb 17, 2016 01:23 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I seldom do opens

Feb 17, 2016 01:09 PM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

My guest list.

All of our open houses are by appointment only, generally all day long on a Saturday with each party scheduled 20 minutes apart.

Feb 17, 2016 11:24 AM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

I used to have food but found thta it is often a waste of time.

Feb 17, 2016 08:39 AM
Rainmaker
4,272,548
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

The owners!

Feb 17, 2016 06:00 AM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

If open houses are allowed, use as many as you can find, also use flags and pointers, do indicate a property address and time it is over. I usually bring water( since it is hot in SoCal), fliers, business cards, notepad, singing brochure, ipad. 

Feb 18, 2016 03:48 PM
Rainer
223,831
LUXURYSOCALREALTY COMPASS La Jolla
Compass - La Jolla, CA
San Diego Partner - The Private Client Network

Most recently we paid for a food truck to come out.  That was a nice neighborhood event.

Feb 18, 2016 11:08 AM
Rainer
321,564
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

I have mailed postcards inviting neighbors to a private early showing. Fb ads, MLS,  Full page color flyer, I get info about other homes for sale in the sundivision. Snack and drinks.  Lots of signs.  

Feb 18, 2016 02:07 AM
Rainmaker
516,437
Brenda J. Andrew
ULTIMA REAL ESTATE - Willis, TX
Professional Realtor in Conroe/Willis, TX

There are lots of great answers here already.  I usually prepare in advance with lots of advertising, including the sign on the property stating when the open house will be.  I make sure the owners know, so they have time to get the home "show ready."  I print flyers, have information on other homes for sale in the neighborhood, a list of ammenities the home has compared to other properties, seller's disclosure, information about Brokerage Services, business cards, etc.  I usually bake home made cookies to serve and have some bottled water.  Sometimes I have labels on the water bottles with my company information, picture and my phone number.  I have a sign in sheet and a way to contact them if they would like additional information on that home or any other homes for sale.  Good luck to you!  You will do fine.

Feb 17, 2016 08:24 PM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Make sure property is show ready.

Directional signs in place.

Marketing material.

The right attitude.  

Feb 17, 2016 06:04 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Desmond. Build a data base, make sure that each person registers, gives you there name, email address and phone number.

Every open house that we do for homes we flip, we send a special invitation an hour earlier, they are always well attended.

Feb 17, 2016 05:47 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Desmond Neoh - this indeed is a loaded question.  And you have so many good answers....

Feb 17, 2016 02:51 PM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

I put out 8 signs and advertise on a few online sites.

Feb 17, 2016 06:52 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

In my case, nothing, as I don't host open houses.

Feb 17, 2016 05:11 AM