So, I'm currently waiting to head to an open house and thought I would offer my takes. First, I don't really do open houses. I used to a few years ago but that was when gas was cheaper, the internet wasn't as popular with buyers and you could usually expect a good 5-10 visitors minimum per open house. I stopped doing them when numbers started dropping off as the market worsened and I was doing open houses for 0-1 visitors. Since then, I've made them optional as part of my marketing program. I don't think sitting in a home for 2-3 hours every Sunday (plus maybe 1-2 hours of prep and advertising $$) for little-to-no results is a good use of time. I usually expalin why agents do open houses (not to sell the home, to get more buyer clients) and for a while, I haven't been asked to do one.
Until this weekend. I had a client who probably didn't listen to what I said throw out a, "Well, can't you do an open house or something?" So I agreed to do one today and I can already say, things are not going well. It started with a call this morning to discuss what I would be doing and what to expect. The response I got, "Oh #*$%, that's today isn't it?" - yea, not good. So, I got out there this morning to put my signs out (municipality has a sign ordinance that prevents me from doing this until the day of the open house) and what was the house like? Lawns mowed and nicely manicured? Trash picked up? Nope. Grass is several inches tall and looks like the last mow they did the grass just got blown on top so there were big clumps of dead grass all over. Plus the dying tree in front had dropped branches and sickly leaves all over. Then there were about 10 plastic shopping bags of dog poop right next to the front door (I guess a more convenient location to throw them than the garbage). I knocked on the door to let the client know I had put everything up and the response I got was, "You don't need to come inside right now do you? The house is a mess?"
So yea, I'm not looking forward to this. Although it might be a good 2 hours of time for me to work, I'd honestly rather do that at my home office. Today just reminds me why I don't like to do open houses.
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There are currently 2 Responses to this blog entry.
Melissa @ Cash for houses
Same here; buyers are looking for quick sale on the internet; they need overnight sale - open houses are not fruitful any more :(
Rew Lisa
I have a friend who's selling his home and it's been on the market for a few months. He was complaining to me the other day that his Realtor hasn't done an open house for him yet. I just had to laugh, I didn't realise that some buyers still thought that an open house was the pinnacle of real estate marketing anymore.. but apparently I was wrong.