How To Hold A Successful Open House
Holding a successful open house in the real estate industry is one of the most key deciding factors when it comes to your success. Almost 20% of your sales will result from an open house. Your property has to be presentable meaning almost spotless from top to bottom. If its priced right and located in a desirable area, you’re almost ready for an open house. Here are some sure-fire tips to follow when hosting a successful open house.
1. Advertise the Open House
Don’t be afraid to talk to people! How will they know about your business if you don't tell them? Advertise with a sign in the yard all week or find the busiest intersection closest to your home. Mark the MLS for open house times. Make sure that Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com all have the open house listed correctly. Knock on the neighborhood doors. See if anyone knows of a buyer. Invite them to the open house. This little exercise opens up a lot of business. Neighbors sometimes want to sell or have someone in mind to buy. No one likes to door knock so set yourself apart and do the leg work!
2. Put Out the Paperwork
Holding a successful open house isn’t just about all the ambiance. It’s also about the business, people want to see the paperwork! People love being able to take stuff home. So have brochures and pamphlets that contain quality photos, key points/features, make sure to have financials displayed, etc. Maybe even have some freebies with your name and logo on it. Something as simple as a pen or a case of mints can go a long way. Some may come in just wanting to talk about logistics ranging from inspections, blueprints, the appraisal, etc. Be sure to set out all the documents associated with the property for viewing. Dot your I’s and cross all your T’s. Try to leave no question or concern unanswered
3. Interact with the Visitors
There is a psychological process to help one discover when it's time to move. Let's face it moving is a big decision. It is important to be cheerful and upbeat for every person who views the property. Converse with your potential home buyers to get to know them. Ask questions to uncover their goals and if you can convince them your home fits their vision. You will not receive an offer with every open house initially sometimes it takes more work so it’s important to stay in touch. Send an email of homes you think they might like. Send property listings in their area. It’s important to establish trust! Help them see the value of their property. Share tips on staging! Make a phone call! In a world of texters just call someone and say "Hi, I was thinking about you. I wanted to drop a line and see if I can be of any real estate help?" can make all the difference.
Following these tips will help grow your pipeline. It's important in real estate to have a pipeline to avoid the feast or famine mentality. But not only will it grow your pipeline. But it will also set you apart from other real estate agencies. People love professionalism so I encourage you to consider these steps.