Today is one of those quintessential September days here in the Delaware Valley when you can smell the excitement of Fall in the autumn air. People everywhere are gearing up for the first day of E-A-G-L-E-S madness, flanked by a Phillies double header. Non-sports fans may be switching out their summer and fall wardrobes, doing home improvement projects to prepare for the winter months, or enjoying the sunshine by spending the day outside. As an agent hosting an Open House today, I'm hoping at least ONE person is also shopping for a home, making the most of the crunch time between now and the deadline to qualify for the First Time Buyers Tax Credit. And I'm hoping I have reached that person with my internet ads, signage, and let us not forget, balloons.
So....do Open Houses sell houses? The resounding answer is "they can't hurt". Convincing, huh? So you may ask "Are they worth it?". This is how the magic happens:
1. Nosey Neighbors
The first question every neighbor has when they see that For Sale sign pop up in your yard is "how much are you asking?". They instantly start comparing their property to yours, trying to imagine what features you've got that they don't and vice versa. So the moment they know they have opportunity to be unabashedly nosey-- a la the public open house-- they are in like Flynn. How's that going to help you sell? They're going to tell their friends about it. Their friends that may have always loved your neighborhood but never had a chance to buy. They're going to tell their co-workers, their fellow parishioners, their relatives. That's our hope, at least.
2. Destiny drives by...........
The signs, the balloons, maybe some flags thrown in there. All part of the sticky web we Realtors weave to draw the unsuspecting prospect to your home. More than any other media, signs are the biggest draw when selling a house, whether it be new construction or resale. If you put a balloon on it, they will come. You never know who could be driving around aimlessly and be sucked in by your jewel-box of a home and it's amazing curb appeal.
3. Real Estate agents doing their homework
If I'm listing a home for sale, I like to take the week before to preview the other homes for sale in the area. There's no better way to do this than to attend an open house. The seller isn't inconvenienced by my appointment with the hopes that the showing will result in a sale, and the listing agent is available to answer all of my questions face to face. And guess what will happen if I like it? My big, Realtor mouth will gab about it to all my other connected real estate friends, and pretty soon that buzz is going to generate at least one showing for you. And one showing is all it takes to make a sale.
Coming from a new construction background, I entertained people traipsing through my model home every weekend, usually just for shits & giggles and often for the free cookies. I know that very often having an open house is something I'm doing primarily to give my sellers peace of mind. After all, if the price isn't right and the location isn't right, even weekly open houses aren't going to help. But the possibility of finding a buyer with a little bit of meeting & greeting, and of course those balloons-- well that is priceless.
