One of the most common questions we get from homeowners is, “Are open houses effective when selling my house?” It’s a large debate we have amongst Realtors® as well. Statistically, only a small percentage of sales will occur through an open house, which doesn’t seem encouraging, at least not at first glance.
However, let’s look at it another way. Instead of thinking about open houses as a selling tool, consider them as part of your overall marketing strategy. The GoWylde Real Estate Team sells a significant number of homes each year, largely in part to the exposure we get from open houses.
Preparation is first step to a successful home sale. The resources below are a great way to get started:
- Refining Your Offer Strategy When Selling First House
- Renovating Vs. Selling Your Home As-Is
- Best Practices for Selling a Home in Today’s Market
Why Open Houses Work
When you’re selling your house, it’s really important to make sure that it is available to all potential buyers. Open houses are a really effective tool to get multiple buyers through your property in a very short window of time.
It’s also a very low-pressure way for buyers to come and view your property. Open houses are especially effective on the first week that your house is listed when excitement levels are still high.
Benefits of Hosting an Open House
People can view your property even if their real estate agent is away or otherwise unable to show listings that week. Potential buyers don’t need to schedule an appointment or jump through any hoops, which motivates them even more.
Another huge bonus is that your listing agent now has the opportunity to sell your property to someone else’s buyers. This increases exposure because the listing agent has more skin in the game than a buyer agent who doesn’t care if the client buys your house – or the one down the street.
Looking for more tips to succeed when selling Guelph real estate? The posts below will help you make the most of every opportunity:
- Tough Questions to Ask Your Realtor® When Selling Your House
- Home Inspections: Friend or Foe When Selling Your Home?
- 5 Quick Updates That Add Resale Value
Why Some People Hate Open Houses
One of the biggest objections to open houses for most sellers is they don’t want their nosy neighbours waltzing through their space. Unfortunately, there really is no getting around this situation. The best way to handle it is to use it to your advantage.
It turns out that those nosy neighbours aren’t always a bad thing! Often, they will have a friend or family member that is eager to get into the neighbourhood.
The Power of a Neutral Third Party
In reality, you couldn’t ask for a better advocate for your home than someone who lives nearby. We can’t tell you how many times our agents have been at an open house when one of the neighbours has walked in and started talking about how much they love the neighbourhood.
What’s better to sell your house than a spontaneous third party live testimonial from an unbiased source? This is just one of many reasons hosting an open house can be a huge advantage in any market.
Do you want to talk more about your selling strategy in Guelph or the Tri-Cities? Our Guelph real estate agents are happy to answer any questions you have. Get in touch with us today at info@gowylde.ca or call 519-826-7109.
