The answer is open houses are good for both.

Some believe that open houses are just a means for agents to get new prospective buyers who are starting their search.

While it is true that open houses can help agents find new customers, there are several substantial benefits of open houses for sellers as well.

We are seeing more serious buyers interested in specific properties that caught their attention online, which is most benefiting to sellers.

A fair amount of open house traffic comes from buyers accompanied by agents who take advantage of the open house period (usually Sunday afternoon) to view a number of listings and get a feeling for what the market has to offer.

Another benefit to sellers is that buyers’ perception of the property is clarified as more people view and opine on it. Being familiar with the public’s questions and concerns informs the seller what to address as well as which of the home’s features should be accentuated.

What are your thoughts? We’d love to hear from you!

As a seller, have you found it stressful to prep the house for an open? 

As a buyer, do you attend open houses out of curiosity and do you “shop” for friends and colleagues that may be in the market for a home?  

Contact me with your responses and for further insight on navigating the home buying and selling processes.