Trulia Voices Real Estate Q&A in Williamsburg

Roger
Roger
Home Seller
Toano

Open House questions

I am holding an Open House in the week or two and am advertising so far in the following ways:
1. Sending pretty descently designed postcards to a few agents in every local Realty office.
2. Sending postcards to very targeted local renters.
3. Zillow
4. Newspaper.
Any other methods? Any physical locations that I should be leaving flyers? By the way if you are close to zip 23168 and you see an Open House postcard in the next week or so in your office tell all your realtor buddies and get out to my house so you can help out your clients! Including you Mr. Williamsburg.

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Answers (4)
Kenneth
Kenneth "Ken" V…
Real Estate Pro
Princeton
Wed Apr 16 2008, 09:54

Suggest you cooperate with buyer brokers at a rate higher than they would earn on properties listed in the local mls (advertise it on the fliers you send out). That should get their attention and create a buzz. Dont forget to call each visitor after the open house for feedback. Have visitors sign in with name and phone # at least and leave cards if they are realtors. Take license plate info if you get a bad feeling about someone. You may want an extra person on hand for safety reasons and to keep an eye on wandering "buyers" Remember to remove valuables, guns, prescription meds etc.

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Roger
Roger
Home Seller
Toano
Wed Apr 16 2008, 06:11

I am hoping to attract many agents to the Open House. Of course, I would like to have many clients come with or without Agents. If the Agents want to sell me thats fine, but expect to be sold. If I get them there maybe I can get some buzz going about the house in the agent community. I guarantee once they see the house it will stick in their heads. I am not just a dotting owner, this is a commodity to sell and we have put it in the best possible light to SELL. Come to the Open House and if there is something I can do to make it an easier sell to your client then I am all ears. It increases your chance of 3% and my chances of selling.
Again any other ways I can get the word out there about an Open House? Refer to the opening questions about what I am trying already.
Thanks - I have learned a few things on here.

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Deborah Madey -…
Deborah Madey -…
Real Estate Pro
Rumson
Tue Apr 15 2008, 22:29

Send your postcards to the attention of the Broker/Manager of the real estate office and ask that they make an announcement at a meeting, or post it on a bulletin board for all agents to see.

Your best option for selling is to reach buyer agents. Most buyers are working w/ agents.

Open house traffic is also generated by signs or directional’s. Check your local ordinances for the rules.

Few open house attendees actually buy the open house they visit. While it does happen, it is statistically minimal.

In your interactions with agents, expect several to discuss the benefits of representation with you. It's actually a great oppty for you to evaluate potential Realtors. Chances are you may end up hiring representation, so utilize this oppty to check out your options.

Have a great open house.

Deborah Madey - Broker
Peninsula Realty Group - New Jersey

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Keith Sorem
Keith Sorem
Real Estate Pro
Burbank
Tue Apr 15 2008, 21:35
FIRST ANSWER

Roger, so you are selling by owner, without professional representation.
Just so you know, open houses to not sell homes.
A CAR study shows that 90% of the time the buyer first sees the home they buyer with a Realtor. So you are effectively excluding 90% of the buyers. Of the remaning 10%, 5% know the seller directly, so you are left with 5% of the buyers.

Homes sold direct sell on averate for 16% less than Realtor-sold homes (no wonder , with only 5% of the buyers). Also, note that 85% of owners eventually list.
If you need to sell to net top dollar, at least TALK with a Realtor. We don't bite and you might learn that there is a reason that we have been around for hundreds of years.

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