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Hello, friends!



Today I would like to blog about Open Houses!  They can be a success or a failure, and sometimes somewhere in between.  It makes me sad that many people come to an Open House without their agent.  I feel like the agents should be keeping track of the Open Houses in the area and marketing them to their buyers.  Maybe they are and I just don't know about it.  Hmmmmm.....  I know this Open House I held on Sunday had been announced in the paper and online on different pages by the listing agent and I put it on all my pages to try to get some traffic through this house, but we only had 3 groups of people and they all had their own agent.  When I was able to sell and write the contract on my last Open House, they did not have an agent, knew about it through a friend and I was able to show the house to them only, there were no other lookers.  Yesterday was such a beautiful day here and I was really looking forward to holding it.  Any suggestions?????  Anyone???  What do you look for in a home when you are thinking about attending an Open House?  Where do you look for the Open House announcements? 

I try to make my Open House fun and informative.  I do not serve food or anything like that, but I have small toys for the smaller kids accompanying their parents on a tour.  Chances are they are tired of looking at "dumb houses" and would rather run loose out in the yard or be at home!   

All my Open Houses have a copy of the listing from MLS, a copy of the seller's disclosures and sometimes a form saying how much the average utilities are.  I also make my own flyer and have my cards out there.  Sometimes the listing agent prints their own flyer and I have it out there, too.  I also try to have an "About Me" page available and a "Buyer's Packet" which has proved to be very helpful in the past.  My Buyer's Packet has everything you would want to know about buying a home with AMAX or pretty much anyone else!!  It guides you through the steps, signing with an agent and what that exactly means to you as a buyer; applying for a loan and getting a prequalification letter, and some information about lenders and how to chose them; what is important to you in a home and how to get the options you have chosen or compromise for what you can get because of finance restrictions or just the availability in our market.  It walks you through getting the contract together and to the sellers, how to chose an Inspector, Mover, Title Company, etc.  I don't know of anything else a potential buyer needs to know!  

What I DO know is that when I write a contract and it is accepted, I feel like having a party! I know that this is what I was put here to do!!  I totally do not care how much money I make, how much time it will take, etc!  I'm in Heaven for a short time and start focusing on the "Next Step" for my buyers and me!  I do try to market and explain how much I will do towards making the closing a success.  My time is valuable.  But I ENJOY every aspect of it!!  

If you read my blog,  please comment on what you think!  Much love, hoping the weather gets better - EVERYWHERE!!

Cathy

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