Are Open Houses Still Effective? A Real Estate Agent Explains

Does location still matter most? Should you remodel your home to fit your style or to boost resale value? Are starter homes still part of the market? There are plenty of questions about the ever-changing real estate world. In our Ask an Agent series, we team up with experts at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate to answer your biggest questions about finding, buying, and selling a home.

Between social media and online listings, open houses can seem outdated. But do they still help when you're trying to sell a home faster? A real estate agent explains why they still matter and shares her top advice for drawing buyers in and helping a property stand out.

For this edition of Ask an Agent, we spoke with Kristen Wehner Jacobsen, an associate broker, realtor, and CDRE with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate | The Good Life Group in Omaha, to learn whether open houses still play a useful role in selling homes.

Meet Our Expert

Do Open Houses Still Pay Off?

Yes—open houses remain important in today’s market because they allow a large number of buyers to view the entire home at once. For my clients, if a property remains on the market long enough, I usually schedule an open house within the first three weekends after it is listed.

We promote the event for six full days and keep the open house to an hour and a half. That limited window tells buyers the home will only be available to tour for a short time, and we have seen that approach boost interest and turnout.

Just as important, the six-day promotion period gives buyers time to get prequalified. That way, everyone who walks through the door can make a more informed and confident decision before they even step inside.

What Sellers Can Do

Before a home is listed, we ask sellers to work with my home stagers and review what needs to be done so the house shows well. That usually means a deep clean, opening all the blinds, turning on every light, making the beds, and fluffing the couch pillows. Small details like those can make a significant difference.

And while it may sound unusual, scent also matters. I personally avoid strong plug-in fragrances because buyers may wonder what is being covered up. Some of my clients bake cinnamon rolls or choose another comforting smell that feels welcoming. I often suggest a simmer pot because it smells pleasant without being overwhelming.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens