I think open houses are great. I feel the open house shows a Realtor is both active and energized.
I held one at my listing in south Naperville yesterday. It was a beautiful day. 57 degrees and sunny.
Despite the great weather, only two groups came through, yet I was happy.
At 4:00, when I picked up my signs, I snapped a few pictures:
Thousands of cars drove by these signs. Thousands of people saw my name and number...
They knew that I was working, that the real estate market hadn't stopped me...
When you keep working, good things happen.
Ken


Ken...Way to go!! Stay positive..that is the name of the game. I have not done that many open houses in the last few months but I am going to start doing them again. With all the competition now and the slow housing market it will help for sellers to see you go the extra mile.
Hi Ken, I love your positive outlook. When I get back on my feet from having the flu or whatever it is, I plan to do open houses.
Ken, it's working. When I hear Naperville, I think Ken Tracy. Get ready to be super busy!
Ken,
It is great that you take the time to put out that many signs....I agree with your marketing techniques......and they are much more affordable but yet as good a billboard.......
I sold a home Wednesday to a buyer I meet last Sunday at open house and sold one today to a buyer a met in today's open house - only person that came in so far but they bought a home......Don't need but one a day if they buy.......
Hi Debbie, Shirley, and Alyce. Thanks so much.
Alyce, I hope others feel the same way!
I just bought my signs, so it felt good to have them out as well.
Let's make 2009 a great year!
Ken
Thanks for the post Ken and the comments by others. You make a valid point about the thousands that drove by and saw your name. The market has not stopped you.
I agree, I had a good open house yesterday too. Lots of just lookers but you get more exposure and it presents you in a professional way. My goal is to do 4 a month.
keep up the good work. I am at an Open House today, in the first hour I have had 4 sets of people come by which is more than I have in 3 hours sometimes. Still 2 hours to go. My goal this year is to do 2 open houses every month for a toal of 24. Our company always do Open Houses on Sundays 1pm to 4pm. This is a people business the more people you can get in front of the better.
Great point and to see your signs with your Name on them makes me think that I have to get personally branded signs. My KW signs are good but They don't scream I am the active agent.
Peace
Hi David, Alan, Jessica, Shelly, and Julie. Thanks for stopping by.
Julie, you obviously have had a lot of success!
Alan, way to go. Great goal 24 this year. Seems like it should be easy, but I bet you would have a big year!
Thanks again everyone!
Ken
That's a terrific attitude to have, so I'm sure that great things will follow for you :)
Ken, I like you see the value in Open Houses. A great way to interact with prospective buyers, showcase a property and show that you are working for the client.
Ken,
If there is anyone who has the worst luck at Open Houses as far as someone coming by it's me. Though I don't let it stop me. I will continue to do them until someone does stop in ......and then I will do them some more.
Hi Ken... That's the attitude and mindset that is going to carry you forward to the next level of success! Way to go!
Ken..
I noticed a lot of open house signs in my area today. Seems that a lot of agents are spending their Sunday's working!
Hi William, Tim, Pam, Jim and Maria. Thanks for reading.
William, hang in there. Get some personalized signs and then you feel better when you get shut out.
I think the real estate market would improve if we all had more open houses!
Thanks again,
Ken
There are a lot of people out there looking and plenty of incentives for them to buy. Plus, it's never a bad thing to have your name out there in front of everyone.
Ken - You are so right keep working and prospecting and good things will happen.
Amen to that, you have to let people know you are alive and kicking.
Hi Ken!
I believe that one of the best results of having an open is that you have your name out there on busy streets for several hours. If you do opens on a regular basis, you will definitely get name recognition in a very short time!
that is one thing about the industry I cant seem to learn to like "open houses"
Myrtle beach short sales
Hi Short, Paula, JL, Robert, Jim, Richard and Steve.
Thanks all for stopping by.
You give a few hours/weekend to the open house cause, and business will grow!
I think our expectations for them need to be lowered.
My goal is to have the signs up on busy streets.
The rest is gravy!
Thanks everyone,
Ken
Ken I love to do Open Houses, it gives me "people fuel"! During the summer I double stack them, I hold one from 11-1 and then 2-4 (give or take). Leave it to you to blog about it, creative genious! I just ordered personalized SOLD signs, I can't wait to see what kinds of leads I get from them.
Hi Teresa. The double stack! Makes me hungry.:)
Great idea.
I need more consistency with mine...
Thanks for reading,
Ken
I am a believer in Open Houses. I use them for many reasons including meeting neighbors, showing the home, networking with Realtors who preview and on occasion picking up prospective buyers. It's all in a persons frame of mind and perspective!
Good for you Ken! I was just saying in another post how I'd like to get back on the Open House bandwagon... Thank you for the motivation to get back in the Open House Game.
Hi Russell and Debbie. Thanks for reading.
Russell, all great benefits.
Debbie, I am glad I can help!
Thanks again,
Ken
Ken,
I agree. I have found that open houses really pay off if you prepare!!
Ken-Great idea for a blog.
Hi Joe and Cherimie. Thanks for reading.
Cherimie, I don't always prepare a ton. I would rather do poorly than not at all.
Thanks Joe. I like people seeing my signs (on the blog or on the street:))
Ken
Nice to keep busy even when its slow. The dividends will be a lot !!
Hi Sham. Great way to look at it.
Thanks for stopping by.
Ken
Ken,
I do agree it give you a better presence...yet you have to balance if that time could have been more productive at a networking function and touching a greater number.
It is a true balancing act.
Hi Dan. I would rather do an open house any day...
You are servicing the seller.
Thanks for reading,
Ken
I don't really care to do open houses any more. I just haven't had much luck with them.
Hi John. As long as your sellers are happy...
Thanks for stopping by.
Ken
hummm...how about that...i never thought of an open house, that noone came, is still successful if my sign is on a busy road and thousands of people saw my sign...thanks
Hi Dana. Thanks for reading an old post.
It made me re-read it. I still love the message.
Heck yeah. Free billboards all overtown for an afternoon.
You have to have personalized open house signs, though...
Thanks again,
Ken