If you are preparing to sell your home, you may be wondering whether or not it’s worth having an open house. Hosting an open house has several advantages and disadvantages, and ultimately, it will be up to you and your REALTOR® to decide if it’s worth your time and effort.
Advantages
Open houses can increase exposure for your home.
A significant advantage of an open house in Calgary is the increased exposure it can provide for the seller. By opening up your home to possible buyers, you allow them to see it in person, getting a better feel for the space; this can be particularly helpful if you’re having trouble getting buyers to schedule private showings. When buyers come into your home to view the property, they have a better understanding of the home and how each room can be used!
Open houses can save you time.
Another benefit of an open house in Calgary is that it can save you time. Instead of scheduling multiple showings with different buyers, you can simultaneously show your home to many potential buyers. Your REALTOR® will be there to show your home and answer any questions that potential buyers might have. This is an excellent option if you don’t want to spend weekends having to leave your home repeatedly for showings.
Open houses can attract new buyers.
Many people aren’t fluent in the homebuying process. There are many moving parts and things to get in order when purchasing a home. Having an open house in Calgary allows people to come in and ask your REALTOR® any questions about buying that particular house. If your real estate professional is in the business of helping buyers, they will have no problem guiding them through what to do next. If someone who walks into your home uninformed ends up walking out informed, then you’ve just got yourself another buyer in your market.
Disadvantages
Open houses don’t guarantee a sale.
We have concluded that open houses do not increase your chances of a sale. Many people who go to open houses are there for fun, whether for eye candy, to get a feel for what’s there, or to spend an afternoon doing something different. If a sale is what you’re after, you typically will not find the seller at an open house in Calgary. Any buyer serious about purchasing a home will contact the seller’s agent directly or schedule a private viewing of the property through their REALTOR®.
Open houses are more beneficial for your REALTOR®.
Open houses are a great way for your real estate agent to network with potential clients. They can use open houses to expose themselves and their brokerage. If a REALTOR® is looking for a chance to get more business, an open house in Calgary with a plethora of possible buyers is the perfect place to be! Let’s put it this way: the chances for an agent to connect with a potential buyer or seller is much more likely than the chance of you selling your home via an open house.
Working with Realty Unleashed
Realty Unleashed is an independent real estate brokerage serving clients in Edmonton and Calgary. Generally, we will do one open house on Saturday or Sunday after our client’s property is listed. Anything more than that has never proven to be fruitful. The actual buyers will come from REALTOR.ca and their agents. We have helped many clients buy and sell their homes and are committed to helping you close the deal on a property you love. If you’re looking for a Calgary REALTOR® to help you sell your home, please fill out the form below, and someone from our team will get back to you soon.
