Home Sweet Home: Marinade Recipe for Open House

In this slow market, we should be paying extra attention to all the marketing efforts we conduct in order to make sure they are being utilized to their fullest. Similar to preparing the roast or brining the turkey, open houses should have some prep time and exposure to a conducive environment before the unveiling. The city Fremont has rules regarding open house signs for realtors one of which is that signs can only be out for six hours (not enough time for a good marinade). Half of all the realtors seem to pay heed to the rules regarding the signage, and all realtors have good intentions but break the rules once in a while to get the job done. That's where the marinade comes in for us. This is how we do it.

First, we delivered color flyers the day before to all the residents living in the subdivision inviting them to attend. Next, we use the heavy, metal signs that allow us to place a flag in them and a rider up on top. On the rider we professionally printed the information "1pm to 4pm." Early in the morning after my run and still in my sweats, I place 6 or so of the open house signs out in full view early around 8am. Cars pass by for hours seeing that there is an open house, but, they see that it is starting at 1pm. These viewers can now make a mental note to return our way to visit the open house. Every bit helps, and it did.

The May 4th open house went very well with over 20 visitors. The feedback I received about the property was very good. Not to mention that my earlier sign post callers showed up around 2pm. I will follow up with them on Thursday the 8th to see where they are in the buying process. Four out of the twenty stuck around a bit and asked some good indicator questions.

by Jeff Pereyda