“We hold 4 to 5 open houses almost every weekend.  We always try to get the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of all the visitors to our opens.  I don’t know about you but sometimes it’s difficult to get people to fill out our register.  Here’s the best way we’ve found to get names and business from open houses in 4-steps…

Step 1:  Fill generic treat sacks that younger children often receive at birthday parties with an assortment of candies, notepads (with our printed contact info of course) imprinted pencils, etc.  We then close them with a twist tie and attach a business card.

Step 2:  We offer these treat bags as a thank you for visiting us during our open house, and 9 times out of 10 we get those people to sign our open house register giving us another name for our database and another opportunity to follow-up with them.

Step 3:  We immediately follow-up with a ‘Thank You’ card.

Step 4:  Each person who signs our open house register goes on our database and we send out a regular newsletter to stay in touch.

We have been averaging 6 to 7 fresh names each weekend of buyers who are ’serious’.  Over time we can track and see they eventually either work with us directly or refer us business.“

“Buyers follow the herd.  Lately, there have been very few buyers coming to open houses.  The buyers that have been coming are ‘tire kickers’… just out looking because they hear everyone else saying the prices are going to keep going down and they want to be ready.

A few weeks ago, I called the other agents in the area to see if they would all do an open house on the same day on the weekend to generate activity and a buzz.  We had about twice as many people come through that day.  Next weekend the same.  Unfortunately, my listing still is a little too high and sat on the market for 70+ days.

I lowered the price $10,000 on Thursday and got a couple offers on Friday.  It actually sold for slightly OVER the asking price.  And then on Saturday I had a third agent call to put in an offer.  I am convinced having the group open house and getting the agents to collaborate instead of competing helped in this difficult market.”

“I create custom candy wrappers to give to buyers and sellers, and as a “Thank You” at open houses and real estate tours. The large wrapper fits on a full-sized Hershey bar^®, and the smaller “house” one fits on a snack-sized Kit Kat^®.

People really like them for the creativity, and of course, most everyone likes a little chocolate snack! (Note: The text must be rotated when wrapped on the candy bar itself. I have set up these examples just for easier readability)”

“Have you ever noticed that when one house comes on the market that another house in the same block comes on a few weeks later? When we list a home we usually put it in the computer on a Friday or Saturday with agent remarks saying no show or preview until Sunday Open House 1:00 – 4:00 PM. Then on Saturday we go out and knock about 25 to 30 neighbors doors and give them a flyer on the house inviting them to come to the open house.

“Two things happen: 1) We meet other people on the street that are thinking of selling, and often are able to list their house as well. 2) We get a large number of the neighbors to attend the open house. If other agents bring clients it creates an atmosphere that ‘We better hurry and buy this before someone else does. Look at how many people are here.’ It works, and we sell many houses in one day.”