It used to be that holding an open house was the best way to market a home. Nowadays though with virtual tours, video tours, and great photos the technology has made it so people can tour your home without even visiting it.
So do you really need to do an open house?
Some home owners would rather not be bothered and don’t want them done. Others want open houses done all the time because it allows people to see the home.
Most people I think fall into the middle of that, which is probably where they should be. Having one open house or maybe two each month is probably ideal. Not that there is anything wrong with doing open houses every week but for the most part you won’t be getting interested people every week.
But there is one thing you must keep in mind when thinking or discussing open houses.
IT ONLY TAKES ONE PERSON TO BUY A HOME!!
One complaint or worry you hear often from home owners is that open houses only bring in snooping neighbors. I am not here to tell you that this fact is not true…it is. I did an open house this past weekend and I had 6 people or couples through the home and 4 of them were neighbors. (I am doing another open house this upcoming Sunday, 110 Hilltop Court, Camp Hill. I will be there from 1-4pm)
But one of the other two seems legitimately interested so it might all have been worth it.
It only takes one person to buy a home. If they see it and love it and want to buy it then the inconvenience of leaving your home for 3-4 hours then it was definitely worth it.
And even if you do only get neighbors it still might work out. A stat I heard recently said that 30% of homes sell through neighbors. They surely know someone that likes their neighborhood and maybe they have a friend or family member in mind who is looking there.
Who sees the homes more than anyone else? The neighbors. And they have friends and family that come and go and have more than likely noticed the surrounding homes. Maybe they thought yours was the perfect house. Maybe they were just hoping that it would someday be available. Or maybe your neighbor’s brother has been looking to relocate to that neighborhood. Well who better to get first look at your home and tell their family than your neighbor.
So homeowners, don’t ignore open houses just because neighbors will be the majority of the visitors. That might be exactly what you want!
