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Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I don't do open houses... my houses are open 24/7 on the internet. Serious buyers will come with their agents by appointment and at their convenience to see houses that interest them, not when I tell them to come on a Sunday between x and y hours... those who "wander" through open houses are still mostly tire kickers if you ask me.

May 16, 2017 04:35 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,225
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

I'm successful in not doing them and putting that precious time to better use.

May 16, 2017 04:48 AM
Rainmaker
4,571,806
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Karen - I do hold open house events as part of my marketing of most properties.  It's not just one thing that makes them successful, it takes a long of planning and upfront preparation -- online/offline marketing, signing and perhaps most importantly the right attitude.   

This is not a one size-fits-all business.  Thankfully.   

May 16, 2017 04:57 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,171
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

There are some good ways to do them. I would team up with your friend with 2 listings in a community. I think that Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor, CRS had a great idea where they blitzed the entire neighborhood with open house signs. Like 1 on each corner.

I think it is too much 'waiting' involved. You might pick up a buyer or 2 if you are lucky but does nothing for the poor seller at either open house.

May 16, 2017 05:24 AM
Rainmaker
757,885
Peter Testa
Nationwide Homes - Danbury, CT
PETER TESTA

I always found that Open Houses work best when you have a hot listing. 

May 16, 2017 05:12 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Karen,

I agree with Michael Jacobs .  This is not a one size-fits all marketing solutions.  In our area, they work really well for the agents  Of course, they are well planned in advance, and all our papers and an online info sites carry the information.  A

May 16, 2017 06:41 AM
Ambassador
5,229,306
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Karen,

What drives my business are repeat past clients, their referrals, agent referrals and current client referrals.  My website and blog as well as farming also contribute. Rarely do open houses do anything to add to our business other than make our sellers happy (those who really want them).

I have someone on my team who does them but, we take the time to plan them, join with other agents in the neighborhoods to have multiple Open Houses together. Still, some opens are slow and some are fabulous!

Depends upon a couple of variables - day of the week, time of year and what part of town they're in.

May 16, 2017 06:33 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

We don't do them

May 16, 2017 06:26 AM
Rainmaker
7,835,266
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I do not hold open houses.

May 16, 2017 05:37 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,188
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Open houses work in some locations and not as well in others. Thinventory may also be a changing factor! 

May 16, 2017 05:33 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Haven't done one in many years.

May 16, 2017 05:30 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,349
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Many years ago when I worked them they were successful, because I had a detailed plan that I followed.  I did not just show up and put an open house sign in the yard.

May 16, 2017 05:28 AM
Rainmaker
1,617,916
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

I did the first two years in the businesss

May 16, 2017 05:23 AM
Rainmaker
1,231,853
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

 Karen Jones Lewis, MBA, Realtor First, it depends on your market area. Second, as Michael Jacobs said, lots of planning, pre & post marketing.  

 

May 16, 2017 10:02 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Karen Jones Lewis, MBA, Realtor No Open Houses here.

May 16, 2017 09:42 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

price it right....advertise properly....the result will be a bidding war....

May 16, 2017 09:25 AM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

I no longer do OH's - haven't in years

May 16, 2017 07:06 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,013
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

For the most part...opens arent selling homes the supply & demand is. Saying that, pricing and good first impression always sell well

May 16, 2017 06:53 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Open houses are mainly for attracting new clients, not selling the actual home that is open. Most buyers will simply request a private showing and not wait for an open house. OPne houses for me work bets on new construction, condos and vacation areas

May 16, 2017 06:51 AM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Success comes in many forms. If you're expecting to sell your listing at the open house that opportunity is few and far betweeen. If you expect to gain new leads from your efforts try to connect rather than sell. Not all homes are good candidates for an open, choose wisely.

May 16, 2017 05:38 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

I do open houses.

These open houses have a clearly defined purpose that sound nothing like 'spending time.'

If you think the purpose of THE open house is to sell THAT house, one needs to ask what tools have been created to ensure that outcome? As you can see, most open house goals are fake, and are simply time wasters.

A new agent desperate to get that first closed transaction should focus on "building a buyers list' as the purpose of the open house.

The open house therefore must be staged to compel visitors to self select. 

Other things the agent must know is when is the right time to host a buyer focused open house, assembling the right collaboration partners, and training the support team.

Yes, that does take work. That is why most open house's are purposed to 'spend time.'

 

May 16, 2017 05:37 AM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     Great way for new agents to "meet and greet" and learn how to show houses.  Also good for builder's model homes in subdivisions.  Other than that, they are usually a waste of time.

May 16, 2017 05:36 AM
Rainmaker
2,220,323
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

I don't do open houses.

May 16, 2017 07:58 PM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

I know they CAN be an effective tool for marketing an agent and their brokerage (vs selling the house) but it's something I just haven't embraced.

May 16, 2017 12:44 PM
Rainmaker
1,502,868
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

In some places they work, in others not.  These places could be across the street from each other, or at the same house on different weekends.

 

I've picked up some really good leads and I've come close to selling three homes at an open house.  Two of them acutally sold to people who came in without their agent (for a variety of reasons, my favorite being the agent didn't want to show it because it paid less commission than others... and acutally told her client that!!!!!!!).

 

I FEEL they are almost a requirement if your seller has limited showing capability ("Every third thursday from 10-1030" as opposed to "keybox on door, call first then go" or "vacant, go direct" listings).

May 16, 2017 12:06 PM
Ambassador
2,435,774
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Successful in selling the house where I'm doing the open house - no, not so much. 

Successful in selling another house to someone who came to the open house I was doing - yes.

So my seller would say I wasn't successful. The buyer would say I was. In my area, I think open houses are mostly successful for obtaining buyers. 

May 16, 2017 07:41 AM
Ambassador
3,344,906
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I used to do opens ALL THE TIME.  ALL THE TIME.  

Was I successful with getting buyers. YES.  

How? By knowing the home I held open. By knowing the schools and surrounding areas.  And by just being REAL and not chasing people down to get them to work with me.  I never asked for buyer information. They took my card and they called me ... asking me if I would be their agent. 

May 16, 2017 07:30 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,372
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

We have had a frenzied market for 3+ years, and truly gets too many potential buyers in the home with an open house when it is a new listing.

May 19, 2017 09:40 AM
Rainmaker
4,935,556
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

I have buyers guides that I made up to them and if they don't have a agent I hook them.

 

May 18, 2017 07:04 AM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I like open houses, and usually they are well attended. I use large( 12 feet) flags now, 12 signs with address on them, a lot of social marketing, and leave fliers for neighbors on their doorsteps. 

May 17, 2017 11:14 PM
Rainer
505,742
Noel Mayer
Upper Montclair Weichert Realtors - Montclair, NJ
YOU WILL BE RIGHT AT HOME WITH NOEL !

I stopped by.

May 17, 2017 10:45 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,896
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

We have sold many of the homes we have held open over the years.

The success? Asking the right questions, but only after establishing the rapport and trust

May 17, 2017 07:04 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Anything you do can be successful if you do it correctly.

May 17, 2017 05:47 AM
Rainmaker
1,390,113
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

We do them because some of our sellers insist, but open houses are never the reason the home sells.

May 17, 2017 03:42 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Not done recently.

May 17, 2017 03:11 AM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Karen Jones Lewis, MBA, Realtor - I do not like it, I still do it and recently, have sold at the open house, too - though they were working with other agents - good for sure.

May 16, 2017 08:58 PM
Ambassador
6,392,899
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

When I make the effort to do them right they are very successful.

May 16, 2017 08:41 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I used to do a lot of open houses and came away with prospects and even sometimes I sold the house. It was all in the preparation.

May 16, 2017 07:08 PM
Rainmaker
5,005,333
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Real estate is local..no one size fits all. In our area Open houses are very beneficial and always include them in my marketing plan for the homes I list.

May 16, 2017 06:46 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I feel open's are great for new builds in deveolpments

May 16, 2017 03:36 PM
Ambassador
5,048,718
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

I rarely do them these days. We are seeing most cases where the only times some homes are open to show are for the OH and then they review offers

May 16, 2017 01:25 PM
Rainer
417,071
Caroline Gerardo
Licensed in 20 states - Newport Beach, CA
C. G. Barbeau the Loan Lady nmls 324982

Partner with a lender friend, serve root beer floats, bring your laptop, get everyone's phone and email who enters. Take the three hours to work with partner to brainstorm other marketing ideas. Use the time to write a blog post guest each other and smile

May 16, 2017 01:22 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,801
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

A few nieghborhoods where the visitors wanting you to write an offer. If not they tell you they are serious looking for a realtor.

May 16, 2017 10:13 AM