Andrew Trench
Holly Real Estate

Open houses are certainly still necessary. The Internet does not give a full spectrum idea of the property. A virtual tour may suffice for a short-term rental, but for a major financial decision like buying a house, you need to see it first-hand to know if it’s right for you. It would be like buying a pair of shoes online to find out that, although they look great, they hurt your feet when you wear them. The only way to know if it feels right is to try it in person.

Donna Bloom
Majestic Properties

I feel that open houses are very good when it is necessary to get more people into a property, especially in [today’s] market. Some buyers might overlook seeing a property if they need an appointment, but feel more at ease getting to see it without pressure. It’s getting back to the basics, and this was always a good tool to generate business.

Alexander Ristl
Douglas Elliman Florida

In my opinion, it is an advantage to do open houses once in a while. Exposing a good listing to the public may produce a buyer, but, most important, establishes a one-on-one contact, which can result in future business and/or listings. I’m convinced, however, that serious buyers who are actively looking to purchase real estate within a certain time frame will only use the Internet or a real estate agent to find the property they want to buy. I’m receiving numerous calls every day from buyers inquiring about my listings because they are exposed on the Web on multiple sites.