Although, some believe, holding an open house is key to a home sale, in reality, it is just one component in an overall marketing / sales plan and system. While almost all real estate agents hold these events, the value of them often differs substantially, depending on how they are used and conducted. With that in mind, this article will briefly attempt to consider, examine, review, and discuss 5 extremely important key steps to make you as successful as you could be. Unless / until they are done, effectively and efficiently, there is a risk that they will be wasted, in terms of time, money, effort, energy and potential results.
1. Marketing / promotion: The best results come from determining the best approach / way to market and promote them. What advertising media could make the most sense for this particular property? Why do you think that? How are you going to get the best value for money? Start by identifying the niche, if any, in which this home and property best fits, and then research the best options to attract the right and qualified potential buyers. While everyone wants a large crowd to be drawn to their open house, unless / until they are mostly actual buyers, rather than home seekers, you probably won’t achieve the most desirable goal!
2. Greeting / welcome: You only get one chance, to make a first impression. This adage holds true, both for the home / property, itself, in terms of curb appeal, staging, odor / clutter removal, and other negatives. It is also true, of the agent who carries it out, and of how he greets and meets the people at the door, if they feel welcomed and appreciated and, if he directs them, forward.
3. Check in: You won’t be able to track effectively until / unless you get as much information as possible about all attendees. Although I prefer that they register, at least through a digital tablet, it is very important to do so. at least have them do it manually. How can you keep track if you don’t have this? When you use a digital program / application, you can streamline the process by automatically transmitting follow-up emails, immediately.
Four. Show / Questions and Answers: How well you show the house often depends on how comfortably you receive and encourage questions, with genuine empathy and the thoroughness of your answers / responses.
5. Follow up: A real estate agent should consider an open house, both as marketing for the home in question and for you as an agent. Will you stand out from the crowd, being proactive, etc.? Take the opportunity both to follow up, to sell this property, to make appointments, to show other houses, to those who are not so interested in this one.
Open houses require a lot of care, attention, time, effort, and expense. Doesn’t it make sense to get them, get the most for the money?