open houses (real houses, real people)

This is short post I decided to do after last weekend's open houses. I mostly work with new construction listings--upper end spec houses. Open houses are loathed by many agents, but when I started in the business even the top agents in little Los Osos, CA were out there EVERY weekend doing open houses. In some areas today there are few open houses at all.

Beyond the exposure the listing receives there are other benefits. OMG! REALITY. The agent spends LOTS of time in a real house soaking up the good design features and the not so good. Then there are the people who drop by to see the house. Mostly neighbors (good, because they like the neighborhood already and know other people who might want to buy close by)and the lookers (many names for them, but they are why the house is open).

Each person has a different perspective on the house, the real estate market in general and life. Some people are very negative, some overly positive, but inevitably the agent can learn some things about the house, real estate and life that they would never have learned on their own. Sometimes that knowledge can help answer a question or offer a suggestion that builds important rapport with a potential future client.

On a few occasions I have sold the house I sat open, but I've laid the groundwork for client relationships a lot more often. I also enjoy talking to all the people. I spend many hours a week online and many addtional hours writing and reading, so actually getting face to face with the people who make this crazy business happen is a welcome treat. I usually bring a book or two and some writing project, but I seldom get a chance to work on them.

Real houses and real people provide a glimpse of the intuitive aspects of dwelling decisions. MLS data is rather unimportant at open houses. You can tell people the numbers, but the house itself speaks with much more authority. How many houses are NOT seen, because some MLS/IDX filter lets them slip through? They might be the Right house and never get seen. That happens at open houses--people who have been looking at property come in and REALLY like the house held open--but didn't see it during the showings. Another reason to hold open houses-help the techie agents think outside the data filters a little bit.

Next post I'll summarize where we are (and you thought I hadn't a clue--LOL)and what the challenges are in the future of real estate and technology. Things can get a lot better---but it will take thinking outside the data box and inside the real world of houses and people.