First, let me say that I normally DO NOT DO OPEN HOUSES! I generally think them to be a colossal waste of time for everybody involved. The neighbors come snooping, tire kicking strangers are tromping through a pricey home, and for what? Decorating ideas? Casing the joint? Checking list prices? I anticipate strangled cries of “BLASPHEMY” from the peanut gallery, but really, what are the stats? There have been lots of ideas bantered about concerning the efficacy of the open house, but I like the one that goes like this:
“Less than 1% of homes are sold at an open house.”
If I had any real credibility, I suppose that I’d provide a citation for that, but alas, I have none (er. . .citation, that is).
BUTT–I mean “BUT,” and that’s a big “BUT,” sometimes, extra-ordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures, and there is a 1% chance, right?
For example, I have a listing on the market right now in Tramonto that is what I would call “ideally situated” for an open house: great traffic, premier location, smoking bargain, sits on the highest point of the mountain overlooking the valley, and in this market, every little bit helps. SO, I have determined that I will indeed do an open house, this very weekend. I have been planning it for a few weeks.
Now, because I am an “over-the-top” type of person (and I am obsessive compulsive), I decided to go all out. There are flyers blanketing the area shopping centers, restaurants, and cultural centers. There are postcards, to the tune of about 1000 going out to adjacent areas that may have “move-up buyers.” There are html blasts going out to about 600 people in my buyer and lead database. There are signs, balloons, food, drinks, door-prizes, the works.
Now, will this work? Perhaps. We’ll see. Maybe my faith in buyers will be restored. Maybe I will be firmly convinced that I should never do THAT again. Who knows. It does make me look like a good agent, I guess. If any of you all are in the area, you should stop by and say “hello.” Who knows, you may be able to eat all the food with me!
