During 2009, our company held 840 Open Houses in all sorts of locations and price ranges. In our South Central Indiana location, Open Houses are an effective way for Sellers to gain increased exposure and advertising. Open Houses also serve the purpose of allowing potential Buyers an opportunity to screen homes, better define their housing requirements and priorities and meet agents.
The establishment of a relationship between Agent and Buyer is really important. Finding someone who understands the timing, financing, physical appearance and space demands, color and style preferences is extremely important. When the message is not clearly understood by the Agent who continues to find properties that never quite fit, the Buyer eventually becomes frustrated, sometimes believing that the perfect house doesn’t exist or perhaps their expectations are unrealistic. A real danger of the Buyer settling for that “WILL DO” property is very sad for it typically translates into another move, earlier than intended.
Of course, another problem that happens in the situation where Agent can’t find a property or understand the Buyer’s preferences is that the Buyer becomes frustrated and puts off purchasing for an extended period. The obvious problem created by this miss is the loss of tax benefit, appreciation, maybe , a favorable interest rate and possibly missing the window of opportunity for the Tax Credit.
After years of selling residential real estate and thoroughly enjoying it, I believe every Buyer has the right to feel excitement about the purchase of a first home, a new home, or just a different home. Despite the price range, the decision to move forward with larger, newer, wooded, country is great. Change is great. So often, I have witnessed people “stuck” with same old house, same old furniture, same old landscaping decide to take the “plunge”. What I have then observed is a new excitement/interest in life. With the purchase of new furniture, interest in fixing up, planting trees -all of a sudden, life is fun!
The special thing I experienced as a real estate agent was a satisfaction and fulfillment in playing a role in such a happy experience.
