Are Open Houses Still Important in Selling a Home? Three Reasons You May Want to Save Your Time

Whether you're in the early stages of the home selling process or your home has been on the market for some time, you may be considering hosting an open houses or two in order to welcome potential buyers in to see your property.

Let's take a look at three reasons you may want to pass on the idea of open houses in order to invest your time in other areas which may lead to a faster sale.

Most Buyers Start Their House Hunt Online

According to statistics from the National Association of REALTORS®, the majority of home buyers begin their house hunt by browsing through online real estate listings.

If you have had professional photos taken and have a well-designed property listing which highlights the features and amenities in your home, you may find that the time and money you would spend hosting open houses is better spent marketing your listing and conducting private viewings.

There's Too Many Listings To Tour Them All

Depending on where you live, there is anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands of homes on the market at any given time.

The sheer number of houses and condos available makes the prospect of visiting so many open houses seem daunting to many buyers, so many tend to skip this step in favor of booking viewings for homes they're interested in.

A Virtual Open House Allows Buyers To Tour 24/7

Many real estate websites offer the attach dozens of photos and videos to your listing, essentially offering you the ability to host a virtual "open house" online where prospective buyers can get a feel for your property before deciding if they would like to see more.

If you can provide a buyer with the ability to tour through your home from their mobile phone, there's little sense in going through the preparation and expense of hosting open houses. Even if you do, you may find that few people decide to show up.

It's important to note that the best source of advice when selling your home is a professional real estate agent who has experience with homes sales in your area. Contact your local real estate agency before you start the home selling process and they'll be able to suggest the best approach for marketing your home to interested local buyers.