Do Open Houses Really Work?

There are a few things you need to know about open houses, and whether they are truly worth it.

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A question my team and I often get is, “What happens when my agent meets a buyer at my open house?”

The first thing to know is that nationally, less than 7% of open houses sell. In fact, the purpose of an open house is not typically to sell. The point is to acquire buyers.

To tell the truth, open houses don’t work as well now as they used to for one simple reason: the internet. Most people find a large portion of their information about a given home online.

With things like the floor plan, 3D images, and videos available, physically visiting the home often doesn’t come until the point where a buyer is fairly serious about making an offer.

Don’t put too much stock in the buyers who
show up to an open house.

But where they lack in successful selling power, open houses are still effective in attracting buyers.

Along with those buyers, though, an open house can also draw out a lot of nosy neighbors.

So if your agent does do an open house, don’t put too much stock in the buyers who show up there.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Should You Bring an Architect in on a Home Inspection?

  Can you bring an architect or engineer with you to a home inspection? When should you do that?

Want to Sell Your Home? Get the Value of Your Central or Southwest Virginia Home

Looking to Buy a Home? Search All Homes on the MLS

Lately, a lot of homebuyers have asked me, “Can I bring an architect or engineer with me on a home inspection? Should I make the house purchase subject to an architectural review or have an engineer look at it?”

If you really want to talk to an engineer or architect, the only way you can ask is to write it into the contract. Make the offer subject to an architect or engineer reviewing the home plans. Your agent will help you with the exact language.

If you plan on doing a huge remodel, it’s a good idea to bring in an engineer.

You don’t always need an engineer to look at a home before you buy it. If you are buying a house and you want to blow out the walls and open up the floor plan, then it would be a good idea to have an architect or engineer check the property. They will let you know which walls are load-bearing, and then you can make an educated buying decision.

The worst thing you can do is buy a house, blow out the wrong wall, and have the house implode on you.

If you have any other questions about buying a home or the home inspection process, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

When to Take a Buyer Seriously in This Market

  When someone says they are just beginning their home search, they could mean a number of different things. Here’s a better question to ask a buyer.

Want to Sell Your Home? Get the Value of Your Central or Southwest Virginia Home

Looking to Buy a Home? Search All Homes on the MLS

What does it mean when someone says they are “just starting” their home search? Well, it can mean a lot of things. Your home may actually be the first home they have looked at, or it could be the 50th. There’s a better way to tell if a buyer is serious about buying a home or not.

If the buyer you talk to is pre-approved for a mortgage and working with a real estate agent, I would take them very seriously. They could give you your highest offer and if nothing else, they will give you good feedback about your home so you can improve it for the next buyer who comes through.

Serious buyers work with an agent.

If the buyer you talk to isn’t working with an agent, doesn’t have a pre-approval, and is just beginning their search, I wouldn’t take them as seriously. It’s likely they wouldn’t be able to make a strong offer anyway.

If you have any questions for me about selling your home or anything else related to real estate, give me a call or send me an email. We look forward to hearing from you.