Last week, I posted a blog about plans for six open houses in one Flagstaff neighborhood -- all by agents in my office. Open House Extravaganza -- We'll See. . .. I said I'd report back.
At my listing on the tour we had one couple accompanied by their own agent (probably would have come anyway, right?) and one other couple who refused to give the agent sitting the open house their names since they were "just starting the process" and didn't want to be followed. Other agents holding the other five homes open had similar results.
The discussion at this morning's office meeting was gave luke-warm reviews. Agents liked the ideas of having a barebones newspaper ad (bold face print of the addresses and times of the open house) was well-received. Less expense, no pictures of the houses (which all look the same in black and white anyway), no pictures of the agents (buyers don't care), cooperative expense. It was suggested that if we do this regularly and rotate neighborhoods we might develop some greater public interest.
So, I think the bottom line is still "we'll see...."
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Ann, Our entire MLS switched to a cooperative ad. No house pictures. No agent pictures. They are all grouped by vicinity and price. It is so much easier for the consumer to plan their tour and we are saving quite a bit of money with this format.
We've also tried to coordinate some remote community opens with less than stellar results... but, hey, we tried!
For buyers it always is what in it for them so plain advertising can be more effective way to get buyers. they could careless about the agents.
I'd be interested to know if those buyers were prompted to stop by the open houses by the newspaper ad, or if they were just driving by.
Sandy
I think that is a great idea and have been active with group open houses before too, some were successful. If you're lucky you can group them together and serve a different snack or appetisers at each home and advertise that. How about a Brokers Open and start by serving the soup in one home and end up with desert in the last home of the tour. I do think that this is not the time with the holidays. In our area I feel February will be the start of the new year and the buyers will be out again....I hope!
Sandy -- that's a good question. We'll try to track it!
Carol -- great idea on the full MLS participating in this.
Ann: Are your lenders helping man the open houses? We're doing that for some of ours, and featuring one on one discussions of VA loans. That brings out the veterans!
Mike in Tucson
Lenders provide flyers for us. They haven't actually offered to sit there for 2 hours!
Your plan for your print ad sounds like a good idea.
I'm not surprised by the no-name visitors.Maybe offering some sort of incentive would help.
I don't think open houses in general do much, but a group open house "tour" is better than just one.