There are mixed opinions about holding an open house. Here are a few of the benefits and drawbacks:

Instead of setting up individual appointments, tell potential buyers you’ll be having an open house on such a date and at such a time. You control the time of the week when you want to show people your house, so you don’t have to upset your schedule.

An open house is a great opportunity to show your house to many people at once and to tell them about its qualities and features. The house will be cleaned for the event. You can make a nice presentation of your home by setting a warm and welcome tone.

This is a great opportunity for neighbors to see your home. Some people feel that open houses tend to attract curious or nosy neighbors. We believe neighbors may be one of the best sources for word of mouth advertising, which is priceless and free. Your neighbors know a lot of people and may have a friend, co-worker, or out of state relative looking for a home in the neighborhood. Remember, many of our neighbors are from the north or outside the U.S. and may have friends or relatives interested in a Florida home.

You tend to lose some control if you have several visitors at the same time. It’s very hard to read interest levels when you are dealing with multiple guests. You don’t get a chance to screen people who walk through your door during an open house. You should have another person with you throughout the event, and remove your valuables from the house beforehand.

Open houses are a traditional way of showing a house to prospective purchasers. Basically, you put up a sign and/or run an advertisement and invite people into your home to look around. They are usually held in the afternoon on Saturday or Sunday. Sundays are usually the best, and 2 – 5 are the best times. Make sure your open house is not competing with a major televised sports event or major religious observances.

Either advertise your open house in the weekend real estate section of your local paper or, if there are several homes for sale in your neighborhood, you could simply put up directional signs to your house and expect to pick up some traffic from other open houses in the area.

Pass out open house flyers to your neighbors. They are the best promoters in the area. Put up an open house sign in your front yard and place open house directional signs in your neighborhood and on well-traveled roads just before the open house. Check with your homeowners association and city about possible sign ordinances.

For even greater exposure, place open house flyers on bulletin boards at your local grocery store, health club, and library. Stick announcement flyers under windshield wipers of cars in your community shopping center parking lot. Pick up plastic door hangers, insert your flyer and place them on your neighbor’s door the day before the open house. Mail post cards to your friends. Attach balloons to your yard sign to draw attention.

Always put the house in prime showing condition. Put soft music on and play up the best features. Turn on lights in darker rooms and be sure the house smells nice. Offer cookies and punch and have fresh coffee so the aroma fills the house and creates a wonderful atmosphere.Put away all small valuables.

Have a sign-in sheet or guest book and get the name, address, and phone number of everyone who attends. Use this information to confirm that the potential buyers are motivated and to make follow-up calls. Make notes, write down positive impressions and comments.

Have house information flyers and financing sheets ready. Have a friend or neighbor take care of your kids and pets. For safety reasons, always have at least two people showing the house. Pick up some blank sales contracts in case someone wants to buy your home.

When buyers come through, let them look around without you. Introduce yourself at the door, shake hands and tell them you’re available to answer questions. Then, let them look.

Follow up after the open house with everyone who came through. Simply ask if there is any further information you can provide about the house and if they had an interest in the house.

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