Open Houses

Is having an open house worth it?

Before jumping into an open house, make sure your agent has put the house up on the local MLS and other Web sites, with a lot of pictures and perhaps a virtual tour if the home has a lot of nice features. Desiree Michael sends out a barrage of e-mails to other agents and makes some calls. If the house isn't getting a lot of interest, an open house may be the way to go.

Online house hunting

 Home buyers don't want to spend a day in the car with an agent like they did in years past. Many people want to spend an hour or less, and zip out on their lunch break to see a house.

Most people do the majority of their house hunting online first. Once they see a home they like, only then will they call the listing agent or their buyers agent to inquire about more details. 

When open houses still make sense


There are times when an open house is not practical at all, such as if a house is off the beaten path, or in a gated community. Likewise, it might be best to avoid an open house on a shabby listing or one that requires a lot of work. It probably won't get much traffic and agents will be reluctant to have their name advertised heavily in association with it.

 But an open house can be a valuable opportunity to get feedback about what is and isn’t attractive about a house.  Properly conducting an open house involves sprucing up the house and its landscaping and advertising it well in advance.

Desperate measures


Nationwide, home sales are expected to drop 6% this year, and sellers in many markets are already dropping their prices. That may prompt more agents to turn to open houses as a last-ditch effort.  In many markets, that includes hiring a professional stager to make your home look brand new, or at least elegant and tasteful,. 

See-it-to-believe-it homes

Some homes boast this see-it-to-believe it attitude because of the uniquness and appeal the home may have to the right buyer.
The photos on the MLS doesn't always do some features justice.  

The main reason for holding an open house is really finding that one person who just falls in love with your home for the all the right reasons.

If you would like more information on whether holding an open house on your Snohomish County real estate is beneficial to you, contact Greg Bednarz at Preview Properties, Inc.