Attracting more clients with open houses

You know open houses are beneficial to your business, but you can always get more bang for your buck.

Andrew Dorn, of Move, Inc., offered ten tips for Realtors® to make the most of their open houses.

1. Send a handwritten, personal note the next day to any potential clients you met.
2. Follow up with a video email, using a program like BombBomb.
3. Have a raffle for a Home Depot gift card to get vistors’ correct email addresses.
4. Provide an automated neighborhood report with sold info.
5. Sign them up for a listing alert for their search parameters.
6. Use an iPad for sign-in when they first arrive. Visitors are more likely to sign in with an iPad, then a regular sign-in sheet, said Dorn.
7. Provide a buyer’s guide to those who want help.
8. Use OpenHome Pro on your iPad (or OpenHome Register on Droid). OpenHome Pro allows you to set up emails and notifies potential homebuyers when changes are made to a listing they are interested in.
9. Use DoorSteps to help with the buying process and stay in touch. DoorSteps connects you with your buyers, detailing what steps the buyer needs to take, and showing why you are the best Realtor® for the job.
10. Use BrightOpen for sign-in and Market Snapshot – SOLD Alerts. BrightOpen is an interactive app that allows visitors to see details about the property they’re visiting and providing their contact information will allow them to opt-in for both a free newsletter and Market Snapshot report, which will provide local neighborhood statistics.

He also spoke of the importance of the open house being in prime condition. In 30 days, Dorn attended 30 open houses. Between extra furniture crammed into a garage, a giant pile of bird droppings near a front door, and cat food on a counter, Dorn was shocked at how many things were overlooked.

He stressed the importance of open houses, citing that more than 45 percent of homebuyers between the age of 25 and 64 years old went to an open house during their home-buying process, and 50 percent of new homebuyers utilized open houses as an information resource.

According to Dorn, 92 percent of buyers thought open houses were useful as part of their home search process. Make yours worthwhile.