7.18 Conducting Open Houses

Open houses are a great way to expose your listing for sale and to meet prospective buyers. Plan your open houses in advance and be sure they are advertised. In order to assure a successful open house, follow these guidelines:

• The Company strongly suggests that you conduct your open house with another Company Associate. Holding an open house with two representatives provides several benefits including: being able to knock on more neighbors’ doors, opportunities to speak with prospective buyers longer, reducing security risks and being able to split up and show comparable properties right away if a ready and willing buyer arrives while keeping the house open.

• Prepare and take sufficient property flyers and information about you and the Company.

• Prepare and take a list of comparable sales and properties for sale in the immediate area of the open house.

• Suggest that the sellers not be present and that they lock away all valuables that could be targets of theft.

• Place your A-Frame open house signs in strategic, but permissible, locations.

• Open the house, turn on the lights, and make the house look fresh and inviting.

• Have a sign-in sheet.

• Greet visitors in a friendly manner.

• Be aware of your personal safety. Let someone know where you are and have a plan if a visitor starts to make you feel uncomfortable or threatened.

• Accompany the visitors through the property, especially in furnished properties.

• When the open house is over, close up the home, making sure that all doors and windows are locked.