In the age of the Internet with video showings and detailed online photos you may be wondering if having an open house it worth the time and effort.
Let’s break down the Pros and the Cons so when it’s time to sell your house you can decide what’s right for you.
The Cons: Why You Might Not Want to Have an Open House
One of the biggest complaints about having an open house is that it can be inconvenient. Afterall, the house needs to be cleaned up and picture perfect. Homeowners also need to leave the house for several hours. However, a home that is listed for sale should always be kept show ready.
It can be uncomfortable knowing that you can have neighbors and attendees that aren’t serious in buying a home. However, they may know someone that is looking to buy.
Finally you may believe that your listing agent is using your open house as a way to find new clients instead of trying to sell your home. That’s really not the case at all. During the open house the listing agent is there so many people can come during a short time to view the home and ask questions. Your agent’s is there showing showing all the great aspects of your home.
The Pros: Reasons to Have an Open House
We’ve gone through the cons, but there are several great reasons to have an open house when your home is for sale.
An open house creates a great opportunity to do lots of extra marketing for the property. The home shows up with an extra “Open House” tag on Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com and other websites. There are endless opportunities for social media posts, local print and online newspapers. Your agent will be spreading the word about the open house to their network and other clients. Whether or not the people actually show up to the open house doesn’t really matter, because the home has now been put in front of hundreds of extra home buyers that it otherwise wouldn’t have been.
Another great reason to have an open house, especially on the first weekend you are listed, is to consolidate the showings an amount of times you need to leave your home. Planning one or two open houses over the weekend allows multiple people come view the home during a short time.
A third reason in favor of open houses is the opportunity for in-depth feedback. Unlike a traditional showing where your listing agent has to reach out to obtain feedback from the buyer’s agent, at an open house your agent gets the opportunity to ask visitors their feedback right on the spot. This gives you an opportunity to make some changes or do some repairs if several people have the same issues or suggestions.
Finally, you never know when someone is going to walk in and want to buy the home! Sometimes a neighbor or someone that originally wasn’t interested in buying turns into a buyer. There are no guarantees this will happen, but there is a guarantee that if you don’t have an open house it will never has a chance to happen.
So What Do I Choose?
There’s plenty of great reasons to have an open house and there are only a few cons. Our suggestion is to allow open house and even video open house for those clients who might not be able to come view the home.
If you are still up in the air on what’s best for you, consult a real estate agent. They will be able to clue you in as to what’s best for your location and price point.
Give us a call and we can discuss open houses and any other questions regarding selling your home and meeting your real estate goals.
