Open Homes Timing - Perhaps It's Time for Another Look

 

The prevailing wisdom has long been, that Open Homes should be held on Saturday & Sunday. The logic appears to be:

1. Workers are most often available on weekend days.
2. Part-time agents are usually only available to have open homes on weekends.
3. It is easier for property owners to vacate during open homes on weekends.

As is the case with most "Long Held" beliefs, there is truth in the above, however, it does not present the whole story. Let's examine each of these:

1. Many retail workers now work half of their work hours on weekends.
2. Part-time agents have been dropping from the agent's work pool in ever larger numbers.
3. Forcing property owners to vacate for weekend opens, implies lots of cleanup & organisation.

In addition, there are other market variables that can enhance "off-hours" open homes.

1. Off-hours opens have few if any competitors for the buying public's attention.
2. By not having to support more than one open, per weekend day, you could hold 1 hour opens.
3. Number 2 means having the extra time for a customer to feel comfortable converting to a sale.
4. Being able to better focus on each visitor's questions and requests can also lead to a sale.
5. The off-hours open also reduces the confusion in customer's minds to better allow comparison.
6. Off-hours media advertising is often less expensive.
7. By mixing off-hours with traditional weekend opens, a larger potential market is reached.

So, by my relation to these points and the market funnel above, you might want to reexamine your open-house plan;  save some money and demonstrate that you really are a better listing agent.

Just saying...