Open Houses - you see the signs everywhere, typically on the weekends. In an "Open House" the selling agent will be at a home and answer questions and show the home to anyone who happens to stop by. Sometimes dozens of people will drop by an open house, sometimes no one shows up.

Does holding an open house help sell a home? In all honesty, not very often. It's extremely rare for someone attending an open house to actually purchase that home. Having an open house does increase the visibility of the listed home, but that visibility is typically limited to neighbors (who already know your home is for sale, trust me) and people who happen to be driving by.

Realtors like to hold open houses because they are a great way to find potential buyer clients. Many times potential buyers will attend an open house without a Realtor, and this gives the Realtor holding the open house to become that buyer's agent.

Many attendees at open houses are what we call "looky-loos"--neighbors that have always wondered what the inside of your home looks like, and even "professional" open house go'ers who just like to attend open homes to get decorating ideas and see different things.

Opening your home to anyone that walks in the door is something that should be considered carefully. Personal items have been taken from open houses, and we always recommend removing small valuables and prescription medications. Theft is very rare, but it can happen.