Why is an open house important?
Ask Phyllis: a blog series of frequently asked real estate questions.
Dear Phyllis,
My daughter has her Arizona home listed for sale. She didn’t want an open house due to security reasons. In addition, she did not want all the neighbors coming through. But her Realtor insisted and did agree to have another Realtor there with her for added security. My daughter and I feel that someone interested in looking at a home will call a Realtor and make an appointment. However, the buyer who purchased her home did view the home during the Sunday open. Interesting to note that her Realtor didn’t accompany her. Can you explain why an open house is important?
Connie
Dear Connie,
This is a great question, and I am glad you asked it. I also share your daughter’s concerns about letting strangers into a home from the street. We typically have two people host our open houses. However, we assign only one Realtor if the home is small, so we do not make the space feel crowded or smaller than it is.
We also find it difficult to keep neighbors from stopping by. However, they may refer a friend or family member who might be interested in the home.
When a home is occupied, the owner often finds it more convenient to leave for a few hours on a Sunday. Otherwise, the home experiences constant showing interruptions. Instead of one two-hour open house, agents may schedule four separate showings throughout the day.
Sellers don’t want to have to get ready for countless showing appointments. In addition to trash cans, homeowners should hide pet beds and food.
I notice other agents often ask whether I am holding a home open. At times, I wonder whether they skip accompanying their clients because they do not consider them serious buyers. In other cases, they may plan to view the home only if their client shows interest. When an agent accompanies a buyer, I interpret that as a sign that the agent values the client’s time and believes the buyer is worth that level of attention.
