From time to time I have conversations with fellow realtors about the value of hosting open houses. I am amazed at the large percentage who proclaim "they never work". Or "I've never picked up a new client from an open house". To be honest with you, until last year I felt the same way. I wasn't sure if they really worked because they had never worked for me.
Let me tell you.
They really do work! I won't go into the history of it all (see my earlier blogs on the subject) but I began holding open houses again last summer. It finally paid off. I just closed a 335K sale last month, to a couple I met at an open house. I met them at my very first open house as a Keller Williams agent. It was held during the "paint the town red" day. It wasn't a quick score. In fact it took almost 5 months to find them the right house. But we did.
They have since referred me to their friends, who are looking in the same price range. I have a buyer's rep with them and expect to sell them a house in the next month or so.
I also have a buyer's rep with another couple that I met at an open house in October. We have put in an offer on a home and I expect to sell them this house, or another house soon.
In addition to the "clients" I'm working with currently, I have many other "leads" and potential clients in my datatbase from the open houses I've done over the last 6 months. I fully expect to sell several of them houses this spring.
Although I took a break during the holiday season, I'm back on track with an open house scheduled next Saturday.
Open houses really do work!
