| Historically speaking one of the most visible | | | | know that your home is available and that you |
| aspects of selling a home is the open house. | | | | are open to them bringing their customers in |
| There has been a lot of talk lately in the | | | | to have a look. This is a huge market and one |
| real estate world about the validity of open | | | | that should not be overlooked. Usually agents |
| houses as many who come to these events are | | | | are working with qualified buyers who are |
| not qualified buyers, rather they are just | | | | serious about purchasing a home and any |
| people who want to look around the home. But | | | | interested buyers are good buyers. |
| this has always been a reality of open houses | | | | |
| and yet they continue to be held. One might | | | | Secondly, there is the good old "everyone |
| think that there is some actual value to | | | | welcome" open house. Now the main thing to |
| them. Let's differentiate between the two | | | | remember here is that it is unlikely that you |
| major kinds of open houses that one can hold | | | | will see a lot of qualified buyers at an open |
| and how you can pull them off if you are | | | | house. What it does do is help to spread the |
| representing your own home and not engaging | | | | word about your home sale. People that come |
| the services of a real estate agent. | | | | and see the home may know people who are |
| | | | looking for a home and word of mouth is a |
| The first kind of open house is one that is | | | | powerful thing. In preparing your home for an |
| typically held by a listing agent before or | | | | open house, make sure that your neighbors |
| shortly after a home is listed. This is also | | | | know about the event and have a emergency |
| one that you will want to consider if selling | | | | plan ready to go if necessary. There are some |
| your home yourself. Hold an open house for | | | | unscrupulous individuals who prey on FSBO |
| the area's real estate agents. Call their | | | | open houses so be careful about who you let |
| offices and let them know that you are | | | | in and only show the home to 1 group at a |
| interested in holding an "agents only" open | | | | time. After all your safety is paramount. |
| house. This is to let the agents in the area | | | | |