Answers by Manny Barrios

Browsing open houses is not only okay, it’s expected. Some agents might get discouraged if they see more “lookers” than “buyers,” but that’s about their own expectations, not your behavior. As long as you’re polite and transparent (which it sounds like you are), you’re absolutely welcome.

A private listing usually doesn’t hurt your home’s value, but it can limit your upside potential. If your goal is to test buyer interest, it may be useful. But if your goal is to get top dollar, exposing your property on the MLS backed by professional marketing will almost always net you more because it creates competition.

While it’s a fun story, raffling off your house for $1 tickets isn’t a legal option in the U.S. The good news is, there are plenty of innovative and fully legal ways to market your home creatively and generate a lot of buyer interest.