going to a neighbor's open house

[Anonymous]

OP, just be respectful. We bought our house before a scheduled open house for it. They should have cancelled, but did not. The neighbors trashed the inside (won't go into why, the house has a story).

[Anonymous]

I would go. My house is going on the market tomorrow and I like to see what my neighbors have done to their houses. In my subdivision, there are only a couple models of houses so they're all very useful comps for each other. I had a playdate with a neighbor right before she listed her house. It was useful for me to see how open their floor plan was, and what they'd done to their kitchen.

My realtor deliberately did not schedule an open house for my house this weekend because she said that "first weekend of listing" open houses only really attract neighbors, not buyers. We're hoping to sell without one.

[Anonymous]

PP You have a lazy realtor. Open houses do attract buyers, particularly in this area where everyone is busy and it is easy to see a number of houses during Sunday open houses. You also want the neighbors in your house. Remember potential buyers will talk with neighbors and get helpful info about the neighborhood from them as well as transportation, shopping and other nearby activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its tacky, be nice and stay away
Once when we sold our house we heard that the neighbours daughter had spent the afternoon running around in our home. It caused some rumours among the neighbourhood

PP - You use the British spelling. Is this "tacky" thing cultural, by any chance?

[Anonymous]

No they don't attract buyers, they attract potential new clients for the realtor. Why would anyone bother to wait for an open house when you can see a listed house pretty much anytime you feel like it?

We just sold our house last week, and we had people coming on virtually no notice ("we'll be there in 15 minutes, OK?") at all hours of day/evening. Nobody waits for an open house if they are truly looking to purchase, only if they're sort of curious and shopping around.

BTW, our house sold in 7 days with no open house and multiple offers--and there was constant traffic during the 2 weeks before we signed the final contract.

[Anonymous]

We live in a neighborhood with older homes and I also go to open houses to see what people have done with the spaces. If the idea of having neighbors in your house bugs you, don't have an open house; homes do sell without them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad for this thread because I always want to go to neighborhood open houses and never knew the protocol. 12:55 makes a good point. I would be happy to meet prospective neighbors and ask questions if I was thinking about buying a house.

DH and I went in to a similar TH unit as ours that was open for decorating ideas. We ended up talking up the neighborhood to two normal looking young folks (potential buyers). Happily they bought the house and now are good family friends

[Anonymous]

Looks nosy unless you are seriously looking to buy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No they don't attract buyers, they attract potential new clients for the realtor. Why would anyone bother to wait for an open house when you can see a listed house pretty much anytime you feel like it?

We just sold our house last week, and we had people coming on virtually no notice ("we'll be there in 15 minutes, OK?") at all hours of day/evening. Nobody waits for an open house if they are truly looking to purchase, only if they're sort of curious and shopping around.

BTW, our house sold in 7 days with no open house and multiple offers--and there was constant traffic during the 2 weeks before we signed the final contract.

So of course we want to know - where do you live??

[Anonymous]

Yes, as long as you are polite to the realtor and identify yourself as a neighbor and don't monopolize her time. Realtors don't care, since they see you as potential clients. I usually claim (truthfully) that I am interested in the improvements because I am planning to have work done.

[Anonymous]

I agree with a previous poster that it is tacky. If your neighbors have never invited you over before then chances are they do not wish to have you in their home. Why go anyway? If you must see then look online!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP You have a lazy realtor. Open houses do attract buyers, particularly in this area where everyone is busy and it is easy to see a number of houses during Sunday open houses. You also want the neighbors in your house. Remember potential buyers will talk with neighbors and get helpful info about the neighborhood from them as well as transportation, shopping and other nearby activities.

We recently sold our house and had 4 offers. Three of the offers were from people whose first visit was at the open house, including one couple who were looking without an agent so wouldn't have seen the house if it hadn't been open. I agree that your agent is being lazy- there is no harm that can come from doing an open house the first weekend, other than perhaps making your realtor give up her Sunday.

As for neighbors viewing the house, I think most people expect this. It's only natural that the neighbors want to see what condition the house is in and what it's selling for. And I think it makes a house seem more desirable to potential buyers if there are a lot of people looking at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No they don't attract buyers, they attract potential new clients for the realtor. Why would anyone bother to wait for an open house when you can see a listed house pretty much anytime you feel like it?

We just sold our house last week, and we had people coming on virtually no notice ("we'll be there in 15 minutes, OK?") at all hours of day/evening. Nobody waits for an open house if they are truly looking to purchase, only if they're sort of curious and shopping around.

BTW, our house sold in 7 days with no open house and multiple offers--and there was constant traffic during the 2 weeks before we signed the final contract.

So of course we want to know - where do you live??

Not the OP, but I can vouch for the multiple offers. We just went under contract on a house -- this was our third offer, as we lost 2 other great homes to multiple offers, all at asking price. Our realtor told us the issue right now is that sellers want the most solid offer (i.e. financing method, $$ down, etc.), not necessarily the highest asking price because appraisals are a big concern. Updated single family houses are moving very quickly out there.

As for the original question about open houses, we had one when we sold our condo, and the realtor told us that about half the people that came in were neighbors. She says that open houses do not sell houses, they are more for nosy neighbors! That being said, we did visit open houses (most houses go on the market late in the week and hold an open house that weekend, so sometimes you are seeing new listings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with a previous poster that it is tacky. If your neighbors have never invited you over before then chances are they do not wish to have you in their home. Why go anyway? If you must see then look online!

This.

[Anonymous]

It is well known in the industry that Open Houses are to drum up potential clients. Why do you think the seasoned (make millions a year) realtor does not do his/her own Open House? S/He is helping his co worker get business. I would strongly advise against having them as a seller. I happen to not like the idea of over half the strangers coming through not being serious buyers.