Open Houses

Have you ever bought a house via an “open house”? Have you ever sold a house via an agent’s “open house”? Didn’t think so. That’s because open houses put on by agents are not designed to sell your house. Your house is being used strictly as a marketing tool to build listings! You know the drill… the sign in the front yard prominently displaying the agents sparkling smile and two-thumbs up, the balloons blowing in the wind, and the welcome sign right below the open house logo. Agents shine when they have many listings… remember, selling houses is a numbers game, i.e. the more listings (exclusive listings if they are scrupulous enough to pull that scam off) the higher the likelihood a sale will occur, lining the agents’ greed infested pockets. Any agents want to argue this by saying “But, but, but, I sold a house through an open house…”? Give it up guys.. the gig is over, stop wasting the homeowner’s valuable time and resources to grow your self-image and your business. Want proof? Sneak a peak in your local Multiple Listing Service (find an agent friend or ask your agent for a printout of this) and see how many houses have sold via an open house (yes this is a selection for this on most MLS services). If you’re seeking an agent to represent the sale of your home, make sure that when you interview them you listen VERY closely to their “sales pitches”. You want to know what type of houses they SELL, how close they come to selling for their asking price, the houses proximity to your house and the agents experience in that local market, how long the agent takes to sell a house, and through what methods. I’ll be putting together a DETAILED list of how to choose the right agent soon. Check back for that post.