You wouldn't let a total stranger wander into your home, peek into your bedroom, and analyse your interior style. So why do we treat open homes any differently?
Yet many homeowners still believe this is the best way to sell. But is it really?
For too long, open homes have been seen as the go-to method to sell your home. But with complete transparency in mind, they’re not always the most effective or even the most worthwhile way to get the best result. Here's why:
Curious, not Conscious Consumers: Often, attendees aren’t serious buyers. More often than not, they’re just stickybeaks coming along out of curiosity rather than genuine intent.
Time-Consuming: For both the homeowner and the Agent/s open homes often soak up hours, for little to no return , That 1-2 hour window (plus prep) doesn't always pay off when you stack it up against real interest or genuine leads.
Lack of Sales: After ten years of real estate and hundreds of open homes, I can count on one hand how many have led to a direct sale, with zero being the precise result. It’s far less common than people think!
Virtual Listings: The digital era has changed everything. With high-quality photography, virtual tours, and comprehensive property descriptions online, buyers can get a great sense of your home before they even book a viewing. It helps serious buyers narrow their search and saves everyone time.
Private Viewings: Private viewings are now preferred by most serious buyers. They get to take their time, ask the right questions, and view the property without crowds or pressure. It also creates a better space for open, one-on-one communication between buyer and agent, without others listening in.
Digital Marketing: Using digital tools, we can pinpoint the right audience and market directly to them. That means your listing is seen by people more likely to be genuinely interested, instead of wasting energy on the wrong crowd.
Rise Community Magazine: A more traditional method explicitly tailored to our Waikato community, perfect for local vendors keen to generate interest from locals of all ages and stages. It's also a beautiful format to showcase your property; its exquisite imagery, key selling points and more generate readership from thousands of locals every six months!
For our visual learners (we get you), here's a mini breakdown of comparing both formats based on the number of consumers relevant to each.
While no one is saying open homes never work, the truth is that times have changed. More and more, we're seeing stronger results from more personalised, targeted methods. Back in the day, open homes served a purpose. But today, your home's best exposure starts online.
