The Open House

The Open House By Theresa Grant Real Estate Columnist Everyone loves an open house, or do they? When you have your home listed for sale, a common method of advertising it is to hold an open house. An open house is where you choose a couple of, or a few hours on a particular day or perhaps a couple of days, to throw open the doors and invite people in. The idea behind the open house is to have people that are in the market to purchase a home walk through, hopefully fall in love with your home and want to make an offer on it. The open house dates back several decades but like everything else has changed over the years. Back in the day it was more about just getting someone through the door because if they could just see the place, surely, they would love it. That was the mentality. Especially if a family had lived there and enjoyed it for many years. Back then the primary focus of the open house was to have the home itself clean as a whistle and make the home as inviting as possible. Today’s open house is more geared toward showing off the latest features and fabulous upgrades that have been made to the home over the years. To impress upon potential buyers the money that has been spent on maintaining and updating the home. Today’s open house is also a marketing boon for realtors. Now when you go to an open house, you need to sign in with your name and email address or your home address. This is both to protect the realtor and the homeowner, but it also serves as a marketing tool for the realtor. You are usually asked if you are working with a realtor. If you are not, you are asked if you would like to receive either a monthly communication which is generally a newsletter. If you say yes, you are now on a realtor’s email list and will be sent periodic communications, which is not a bad thing. A lot of people win great prizes and other things by allowing a realtor to send you information periodically. Most realtors are generally very generous and will spend time and money to nurture a relationship with someone who may use their services down the road. Holidays and special times of the year are usually when people see little gifts in their mailboxes or hanging from their door handle, from realtors. Often an open house is another opportunity for a realtor to promote their services by offering giveaways and branded materials at their open houses. While it is hoped that the open house will bring a buyer for that property, it doesn’t always. Just remember, when you see an open house sign, even if you are not looking at the moment, you are welcome to attend. See you there. Everyone loves an open house, or do they? When you have your home listed for sale, a common method of advertising it is to hold an open house. An open house is where you choose a couple of, or a few hours on a particular day or perhaps a couple of days, to throw open the doors and invite people in. The idea behind the open house is to have people that are in the market to purchase a home walk through, hopefully fall in love with your home and want to make an offer on it. The open house dates back several decades but like everything else has changed over the years. Back in the day it was more about just getting someone through the door because if they could just see the place, surely, they would love it. That was the mentality. Especially if a family had lived there and enjoyed it for many years. Back then the primary focus of the open house was to have the home itself clean as a whistle and make the home as inviting as possible. Today’s open house is more geared toward showing off the latest features and fabulous upgrades that have been made to the home over the years. To impress upon potential buyers the money that has been spent on maintaining and updating the home. Today’s open house is also a marketing boon for realtors. Now when you go to an open house, you need to sign in with your name and email address or your home address. This is both to protect the realtor and the homeowner, but it also serves as a marketing tool for the realtor. You are usually asked if you are working with a realtor. If you are not, you are asked if you would like to receive either a monthly communication which is generally a newsletter. If you say yes, you are now on a realtor’s email list and will be sent periodic communications, which is not a bad thing. A lot of people win great prizes and other things by allowing a realtor to send you information periodically. Most realtors are generally very generous and will spend time and money to nurture a relationship with someone who may use their services down the road. Holidays and special times of the year are usually when people see little gifts in their mailboxes or hanging from their door handle, from realtors. Often an open house is another opportunity for a realtor to promote their services by offering giveaways and branded materials at their open houses. While it is hoped that the open house will bring a buyer for that property, it doesn’t always. Just remember, when you see an open house sign, even if you are not looking at the moment, you are welcome to attend. See you there. Questions? Column ideas? You can email me at newspaper@ocentral.com