You say you are unable to get proper feedback from the prospective buyers on the day of the open home. Don't you call them a day or two later for feedback? If you ask the right questions you will still receive constructive feedback from those who've come through even if they had no intention of buying.
Off course. I usually go through all attendees the following Monday. Some people leave fake numbers however. Look, I speak to most people and it is rare I don’t get a chance to speak to an open home attendee; I just mentioned it because it can happen. It’s really not my point, my point is that at the end of the day, I have always believed it’s a tool used for the agents benefit more than the vendors.
Lastly, you say you know everyone who comes through the door at an open. do you advertise the open times or do you make prospective purchasers call the office for the open time?
Open home times are advertised on all our web sites, local paper, homes guide, window display, brochures in our office, sign + an email alert is sent to all buyers on our database and the surrounding area gets a personalized letter of invite. So no, it’s not super secrete.
I think that also, in my area they are not as widely used. We deal mostly with first home buyers who are usually eager and excited when it comes to buying. For a lot of them, they can’t wait to pick up the phone to enquire about a home. However, of late, first home buyers have defiantly dropped.
But let me give you today’s examples:
I have had 5 open homes:
Between the 5 open homes I had 4 attendees. Out of the 4 attendees, one of them was a buyer who I am talking too, and she was advised regarding the open home by myself. Otherwise she was happy to view by appointment.
The second buyer was a young fellow who was being encouraged by his parents to buy an investment. He didn’t seem as motivated as his parents. But, he may buy something so I will keep talking to him.
The third buyer was an investor who again, I have been speaking to previously.
The Last buyer was out of the area, first day of house hunting. He didn’t like the home he viewed. I asked for his criteria- So happened I had some homes around that would suit him down to the ground…. Guess what??? They were also open to inspect soon after. He was given the brochures but never turned up. I plan to follow him up shortly.
Granted 2 out of the 5 houses are currently priced too high, in which I accept that alone is the reason for no lookers. But the other 3 are new to the market, actively promoted and look great on the internet/magazines etc.
Interestingly, all these properties received more inspections during the week from buyers actually making the phone call wanting to inspect.
I know some of you have indicated that you have made offers or purchased properties you never intended on even looking at if not for an open home. And I completely agree. The buyer we find for a property is rarely the one who enquires on it. If a buyer contacts the office regarding a property do you think I just show them that one property? Simply said, I tell them to spare an hour or so, I grab a hand full of keys and show them everything we have in their price range or basic criteria.
In terms of the area we service. Not many homes sell through other agents in which we do not know who brought it. In other words, we have contact and are in regular communications with most buyers.
sorry again for the long post... Thankyou to anyone who bothered to read it.