5 ways to ruin your open house
If you’re trying to sell your home, experienced Realtors will tell you to leave
I shook my head at the condo unit owner flopped in the middle of the curb grass, with a book and a drink, while her Realtor greeted guests for the open house. The only question I could think of while she sat there was the same one quality Realtors should ask: “Why are you here?”
Imagine how ridiculous it would be for a parent to hang out while their babysitter watches their kids. Envision the reaction from a ride-sharing driver if a passenger asked him to ride shotgun. Picture a pet owner asking a dog walker to walk the dog — with him.* Think of the reaction a tour guide would have to a visitor planning out his stops. It’s a strange power move to make. If a homeowner hires a Realtor who she doesn’t think can be trusted to do a walkaround of the home, then that’s the Realtor to dodge.
Keep in mind that there are some groups (read: minorities) who often have to remove all signs of living in the home in the first place in order for the home to sell. Realtors don’t try to hide this (racist) fact. Hide the framed photographs, and disappear entirely. “Some” people simply won’t be able to see themselves living in any home where “others” once lived. But there’s another reason why quality Realtors will often tell a homeowner to stay away while showing the property: Potential buyers want to envision themselves in the home — regardless of race — not the prior homeowner. Additionally, Realtors know how to unlock and lock basement doors and front doors. All it takes is a key lock and the combination.
Recommended Read: “5 lessons I learned as a first-time homebuyer”
Unfortunately, the odds of a successful open house aren’t always great. According to the National Association of Realtors (via Investopedia), just 6% of home buyers bought a home after visiting an open house. However, in our tech-driven world, 93% of buyers used websites in their home search. Then, more than half (52%) found the home that they ultimately bought online. (I fall into the latter category. I stared at the condo unit I wanted for weeks. I saw other places, but I just kept staring at the images for this one. As soon as I walked inside for a private showing, I was sold.)
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As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a percentage from purchases with my referral links. I know some consumers are choosing to boycott Amazon for its DEI removal. However, after thinking about this thoroughly, I want to continue promoting cool products from small businesses, women-owned businesses and (specifically) Black-owned businesses who still feature their items on Amazon. As of the first date of Black History Month 2025, each new post will ALWAYS include a MINIMUM of one product sold by a Black-owned business. (I have visited the seller’s official site to verify that Amazon Black-owned logo.) I am (slowly) doing this with older, popular posts too. If you still choose to boycott, I 100% respect that decision.
But there are four other things that buyers should be aware of before agreeing to an open house.