Advice Topics
- Buying (201)
- Selling (210)
- Renting (41)
- Market News & Trends (12)
- Finance & Legal Info (96)
- Tips & Advice (98)
- Working With an Agent (54)
- Marketing (4)
- Investing (16)
- Affordable Housing (17)
- Green Housing (2)
- Schools (1)
- Remodeling (32)
- International Real Estate (8)
- Terms & Definitions (27)
- Home Loans (15)
Top Contributors (View All)
Find a Top Real Estate Agent Near You
Are Open Houses a waste of time ?
Our listing agent says that open houses don’t generate serious buyers. When the agent does an open house, he never has a sign up sheet, so I don’t know how the agent follows up with potential buyers that might be interested. For awhile, the agent didn’t even have flyers to hand out. Is an open house just a waste of time ?
Asked By William | Stockton, CA | 51 views | Selling | 5 days ago
Answer(10)
Amanda Courtney
REP Realty Group
Not at all—if done strategically. While some buyers discover homes online first, open houses still create local buzz and bring in neighbors who might know potential buyers. They also allow agents to gather feedback and generate future leads. For well-marketed listings, open houses can absolutely move the needle.
- 3 days ago
Helpful (1)
Unhelpful (0)
Christopher Raynor
Real Brokerage LLC
Depends who’s running them. If it’s just an agent sitting on their phone waiting for a miracle, yeah, total waste.
But when done right, an open house is a live marketing event. It’s a chance to create energy, collect feedback, and expose your property to serious buyers (and yes, even their nosy neighbors who might know someone ready to move). The key isn’t the open house—it’s the strategy behind it. And trust me, mine aren’t boring.
But when done right, an open house is a live marketing event. It’s a chance to create energy, collect feedback, and expose your property to serious buyers (and yes, even their nosy neighbors who might know someone ready to move). The key isn’t the open house—it’s the strategy behind it. And trust me, mine aren’t boring.
- 2 days ago
- Helpful (1)
- Unhelpful (0)
Are you ready to find a top agent near you?
Browse profiles of the highest ranked agents in your area and find one that meets your specific needs.
Matthew Chapman
Matthew Chapman With Windermere
Honestly, it depends on the strategy behind them.
In my experience here in the Seattle–Bellevue area, open houses don’t always bring the buyer who ends up writing the offer — but that doesn’t mean they’re a waste. A well-run open house can create energy around your listing, attract curious neighbors who often know someone looking to move nearby, and give unrepresented buyers a chance to connect with the property.
The key is execution. If your agent isn’t promoting it beforehand, collecting visitor info, or following up, then yes — it’s a missed opportunity. But when done strategically, with strong digital promotion, great signage, and personal follow-up, open houses can absolutely complement your overall marketing plan and help drive momentum for the sale.
In my experience here in the Seattle–Bellevue area, open houses don’t always bring the buyer who ends up writing the offer — but that doesn’t mean they’re a waste. A well-run open house can create energy around your listing, attract curious neighbors who often know someone looking to move nearby, and give unrepresented buyers a chance to connect with the property.
The key is execution. If your agent isn’t promoting it beforehand, collecting visitor info, or following up, then yes — it’s a missed opportunity. But when done strategically, with strong digital promotion, great signage, and personal follow-up, open houses can absolutely complement your overall marketing plan and help drive momentum for the sale.
- 1 day ago
- Helpful (1)
- Unhelpful (0)
Timothy Wells
Real
Absolutely not — when they’re done strategically.
As an active real estate agent, I’ve found open houses to be one of the most effective ways to build momentum around a listing, create in-person connections, and generate new leads — both for that property and future opportunities. The key is preparation and presentation.
Here’s why open houses still matter:
They bring the property to life. Photos and virtual tours can only go so far. When buyers step inside, they form an emotional connection that can’t be replicated online.
They expand visibility. Even casual visitors — neighbors, referrals, or drive-by traffic — often know someone looking to buy. Every attendee is a potential connection.
They’re powerful lead generators. By using a sign-up sheet or QR code registration, I capture contact information and follow up with personalized insights. This turns a simple event into a pipeline opportunity.
Professional marketing sets the tone. Providing color flyers with detailed property information helps visitors remember the home and reinforces a polished, high-touch impression that reflects well on both the property and the agent.
They serve your seller. A well-run open house signals to your client that you’re proactive, engaged, and willing to invest the time to maximize exposure.
Like any marketing tool, open houses only “don’t work” when they’re treated as a passive activity — sitting at the table waiting for traffic. When you approach them with intention, strategy, and follow-up, they become one of the most personal and productive touchpoints in real estate.
As an active real estate agent, I’ve found open houses to be one of the most effective ways to build momentum around a listing, create in-person connections, and generate new leads — both for that property and future opportunities. The key is preparation and presentation.
Here’s why open houses still matter:
They bring the property to life. Photos and virtual tours can only go so far. When buyers step inside, they form an emotional connection that can’t be replicated online.
They expand visibility. Even casual visitors — neighbors, referrals, or drive-by traffic — often know someone looking to buy. Every attendee is a potential connection.
They’re powerful lead generators. By using a sign-up sheet or QR code registration, I capture contact information and follow up with personalized insights. This turns a simple event into a pipeline opportunity.
Professional marketing sets the tone. Providing color flyers with detailed property information helps visitors remember the home and reinforces a polished, high-touch impression that reflects well on both the property and the agent.
They serve your seller. A well-run open house signals to your client that you’re proactive, engaged, and willing to invest the time to maximize exposure.
Like any marketing tool, open houses only “don’t work” when they’re treated as a passive activity — sitting at the table waiting for traffic. When you approach them with intention, strategy, and follow-up, they become one of the most personal and productive touchpoints in real estate.
- 3 days ago
- Helpful (1)
- Unhelpful (0)
John Wuertz
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Fox & Roach Realtors
Open houses can be great tools when conducted properly. Your agent should certainly have materials to distribute to visitors. The open house should be published everywhere (MLS, social media, email blasts, etc). My team members also call the surrounding neighbors to let them know to send their friends (40% of people buy homes near their friends). Your neighbors all want you to get as much money as possible because it helps them. The hosting agent should also be getting visitors to sign in either on an app or paper so that they can follow up with them. We use a questionnaire to get actual feedback. It doesn't matter how many people attend. What matters is what they say and how they react to your home. Are there actionable items from the feedback? It's not just price, although it's good to know how the market is reacting to your pricing. But also decor, smell, traffic flow/furniture arrangement, etc. Feedback from the agents and visitors is what you need. Not just headcount.
- 1 day ago
- Helpful (1)
- Unhelpful (0)
Grace Bonaccorso
Fine Properties
I don't think it's a waste of time. Even if no one comes to the open house, just the action of setting it up puts it out there in the digital world. For example, if someone had saved your property on Zillow, Zillow would now send them an email that your house is open. So, if nothing else, its extra free advertising and exposure.
- 3 days ago
- Helpful (1)
- Unhelpful (0)
Jason Craig
Coldwell Banker
Test message open house
- 3 days ago
- Helpful (0)
- Unhelpful (0)
Gale Culver
Real
A strategic open house will absolutely get eyes on your property. Most homes however do not sell through open houses. It does not mean that having an open house is a wast of time. The agent does need to be prepared and generate some excitement about it before it happens or it very well could be a waste of time.
The results will be a reflection of the effort put in.
The results will be a reflection of the effort put in.
- 16 hours ago
- Helpful (0)
- Unhelpful (0)
Cindy Jacobson
COMPASS
I have had Buyers from open houses, on a more rare occasion, butI have had new listings due to the work I do on my listings as Sellers are watching and they do come to my opens.
- 1 day ago
- Helpful (0)
- Unhelpful (0)
Related Questions
-
How can I get the most money from selling my house?
- Asked by Ronda N.
- 2196 views
- Selling
- 8 years ago
-
How should I prepare my house before selling it?
- Asked by Mike M.
- 1496 views
- Selling
- 4 years ago