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What your Realtor won't tell you!
Do you expect your Realtor to host an open house? You may be doing them more of a favor than yourself. Every house on the market is an open house, meaning that any buyer can look through it at anytime with the proper appointment.
By having an open house, sellers are hoping that droves of people will pour through the door and one of them (or two or three) will absolutely love the house. You may indeed get people coming through your front door. Who they will be is an entirely different story altogether. Most will be nosey neighbors, a few will be people looking for decorating ideas, and others will be professional lookers. Not to say that a legitimate buyer will not walk through the door. However, the chance of your home being exactly what they are looking to buy is not likely.
There are over 1300 active homes on the Flagler County MLS at the moment. A buyer would have to be very unwise not to look at more than one. Once upon a time, there were many unwise buyers, that time has passed and they are now keenly aware that it is a buyer’s market. If they are a legitimate buyer, they, most likely, are working with a Realtor, to whom open houses do not matter. They will go on pre-arranged viewing appointments and look at several houses at once. These houses will already be tailored to their needs and desires. A Realtor will also make sure they are qualified to look at the homes they are previewing. These are the buyers you want in your door.
Why then, will your listing agent not tell you this? Two main reasons apply. First, it is expected of them. Sellers are used to open houses being a legitimate selling tool, as it was in years past. Technology has surpassed this need and it is not the advertising it once was. Realtors do not want you to think them unaggressive or lazy when it comes to selling your home so they will go ahead with the open house, even when they know it to be useless.
Secondly, it can be of great benefit to them, as an agent. Sure, the chances that the buyer (if they really are a buyer) walking in your front door and wanting your house are almost non-existent, but they are in the market for a house. The real estate agent has access to all the houses on the market and will be sure to find them on that matches their specific needs. What a great way to attract customers for themselves!
Don’t assume that because your Realtor wants to do an open house, they are in it for personal gain. Just keep in mind that after the time, energy and expense of an open house, you are not likely to be any closer to the sale of your home than you were the day before.
