The Homestead
Many real estate agents believe an open house is no longer useful. But for some, and for homeowners especially, an open house is a useful tool for spreading the word about a property for sale.
Day of the Week
Schedule your open house on the weekend and you will see more people. Though this varies, most people are not willing to view an open house in midweek. Work and family obligations keep them home. The weekend offers the best chance to welcome potential buyers.
Choose a day depending on your area. Sunday afternoon between noon and 4 p.m is the most common. However, in some areas, especially those where there is a large religious population, you will find that Sunday is the worst time. In this case, aim for Saturday at the same time.
Be flexible and you are likely to see more people. There will always be some who prefer to view the house during the week. In this case, advertise a Thursday evening time. You don't need to schedule more than an hour as it is the middle of your week, but this may help.
Holidays
Avoid hosting an open house during the holidays, i.e.,Christmas, Independence Day and Columbus Day. Ideally, you should choose a date that falls after the holiday. Many people will be working steadily in preparation for the coming holiday.
Weather
Pray to the gods of weather. When scheduling an open house, always schedule a rain date. List this alternative date with your initial announcement. Cold weather also may keep people away. Though you may have no choice regarding a winter open house, you can watch the weather forecasts and make an educated guess. An offer of hot coffee and croissants may help attract people.
Take into account the heat. If it is mid-summer and triple digit weather is concern, plan your open house so the peak heat hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. are avoided. Mornings will be cooler and more manageable than starting at dusk after a sweltering day.
Contact
Ask those planning on attending to sign a group email list. Inform potential buyers that you will update them with any pertinent changes by sending emails two hours before starting time.
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