Anybody trying to sell their house get annoyed by

[mtemm]

the number of people not looking to buy, just looking at your house for entertainment value? We had another open house today and our realtor's notes pretty much said it all. Lots of people just out for a lark. Neighbors, just wanting to get a look, people with nothing better to do. Blech. Some that loved the house, but they already own a home and aren't looking to move.

Am I the only one annoyed by this?

 

[Pee Wee Herman]

I hate that also, some people have no manners. Where do you live by the way ?

 

[mtemm]

why, do you want to come by next sunday just to look? LOL! (j/k)

 

[TIdoublegaER]

It would annoy the heck out of me! But trying to be the optimist, maybe someone will tell a friend or relative about it who is looking for a house to buy.

I will admit that sometimes DH and I will go look at model homes just to see what is being built or to get some decorating ideas, but I don't think I could do that for an open house where someone lives there unless I was truly interested in buying a house.

 

[tkyes]

I'm guilty!

DH and I went to two open houses yesterday in our neighborhood that we have no intention of buying. We are considering selling our house and want to know what comperable houses in the area are going for.

Sorry if that offends people. I figure the realtor is just sitting there for 4 hours, what more work is it to him if we walk through?


Is that horrible?


Tamie

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

That annoys me too - when we sold our house we told our realtor "no open houses" - showings by appt only. that seemed to cut down on the "lookers with no intention to buy".

 

[powellrj]

don't be too put off by it. We were just taking a walk and came across an open house. We had no intention of selling our house when we went in, but we fell in love with the house and the price was good and the they took our house on trade so 3 months later we were in a new house we never knew we were looking for. I think a lot of times people will buy a house on impluse at least we have been happier with the houses we bought on impluse than the ones we bought because we needed a house right that minute.

 

[RUDisney]

My sister always coveted a house that was up the block from hers. She and my BIL were talking with a contractor about adding on to their home and went to the open house on a lark, for ideas for their expansion... they bought the house!

So, sometimes it works out for the best even though it is annoying to think that your house is the free entertainment of the week.

 

[Dixie Luvr 98]

I think that is pretty much expected at open houses. My mom is a realtor and says she doesn't do open houses unless the owner insists, because you get so few serious buyers that way.

We went to several open houses when we were getting ready to build ours just to get ideas and check out the builders. They were almost always built-to-sell though.

 

[ahutton]

That is exactly why the realtor we had our home listed with said he never has open houses!

 

[tkyes]

Well we wouldn't be in our current house if they hadn't had an open house.

We were working with a realtor and we weren't too thrilled with him so one Sunday we drove around on our own and stumbled upon our house.

You just never know.

I really never knew people felt this way. I still have no issues walking into an open house though, even if I'm not interested. If it's open, it's open, anyone can walk through.

 

[Talking Hands]

My husband and I rarely will do open houses. They rarely produce a buyer and are basically a waste of time.

 

[mtemm]

Thanks everyone. I had a good nights sleep, and read all of your responses, and I'm a little more positive now. Who knows, right? Its just so frustrating, especially in a hot market where we expected the house to sell right away, its now been 4 weeks since we listed.

We had an appraisal done on friday. Well, started, anyway. Should have the results today or tomorrow, and really hoping for good news there.

The one couple that really seemed like they would make an offer last week decided on another house. Boo.

And so it goes.

 

[Pembo]

We had our house up for 7 weeks and I was convinced it would sell in just a couple weeks. The house up the street sold in 3.
Our buyer didn't come through an open house but our buyer for our first house did. So you just never know.

Selling a house is a lesson in patience. I learned I don't have much.

And for the record, we went to the neighbors Open House. The poor realtor had sat there all day with NO visitors. So ds & I went over. I told him right off we lived across the street and were just there to be nosy. He laughed and said come on in!

 

[Figment22]

We sold our house in Northern NJ just over a year ago. Our realtor advised an open house and I really had no problem with it and expected our neighbors to come traipsing through our house. What amazed me was how many of our neighbors and acquaintences from around town actually stopped me at school or on the street to say, "Oh, I was in your house on Sunday afternoon." As I said, I knew lots of locals would just drop in but I can't believe they had the nerve to advertise it!

 

[ToyStory Fan]

We didn't have an open house for that reason alone. I didn't want to have a parade of strangers who were just "browsing" come by and take a look at all my stuff. I'd rather deal with a serious customer who is purposely looking at my house with the intention of making an offer. Many open houser goers are there to validate there house price on the market, or to get a look at what you've got vs. what they've got in order to better guestimate their home's worth.

We put our house on the market last week and have had a fair amount of activity. We had a broker's open house last week that actually had to be extended due to the overwhelming response. I just hope we can coordinate the timing of the two house closings...I think that's the scariest part of selling/buying a new house. The annoying stuff you just have to deal with I guess.

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by mtemm
the number of people not looking to buy, just looking at your house for entertainment value? We had another open house today and our realtor's notes pretty much said it all. Lots of people just out for a lark. Neighbors, just wanting to get a look, people with nothing better to do. Blech. Some that loved the house, but they already own a home and aren't looking to move.

Am I the only one annoyed by this?

No! A month or so ago we decided to downsize and found a house we liked...so ours went on the market.

The couple that came immediately took a lot of time with the realtor then told us that they were "local" and weren't interested in such a large, two story house.

Fortunately, we had flooding in the area from storms and our "dream house" became an island - so we got our earnest money back from that one and took ours immediately off the market.

I hate lookey'loos! And those open houses seem to be what attracts the nosiest ones!!!

Rae