• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Phone: 979-693-0201 Email: [email protected]

Myke Leatham | Brazos County Realty

Myke Leatham | Brazos County Realty

Welcome to Aggieland!

  • About Us
    • About Myke
    • Myke Leatham Team
    • Service After The Sale
    • Testimonials
    • Realtors Be Your Own Boss
  • Search Properties
    • Our Properties
    • MLS Search
    • Map Search
    • Rentals
    • Patio Townhomes & Condos
    • Luxury
    • Golf Course
    • Farm/Ranch/Land
    • Foreclosures
    • Rental Applications
    • Reserve My Airbnb
  • Subdivisions
    • Attractions
    • Bus Routes
    • Resources
    • Utilities & Hook Ups
    • Becoming More Energy Efficient
    • Bryan & College Station School Information
    • School Reports
  • Buyers / Sellers
    • Frequent “Q & A” For Buyers
    • First-Time Home Buyers
    • Loan Approval
    • Local Lenders
    • Mortgage Calculators
    • Tips for Sellers
    • Sellers Info
    • Frequent “Q & A” For Sellers
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact

Do Open Houses Sell Houses?

October 15, 2018 by Myke Leatham

The College Station real estate industry is a very competitive market, which means that real estate professionals have to be dedicated and creative when it comes to selling a listing for top dollar and in record time. Marketing a new listing starts on day one, when the listing agreement is signed by the current property owner. The first step to marketing a property is publishing it on the Multiple Listing Service, or the MLS. This service is exclusively offered to licensed real estate professionals, and it is a huge database of property listings where agents and brokers can browse and share their findings with their clients. Popular home search websites like Zillow and Trulia pull all of their information from the MLS, so if your home is not listed on the MLS, then it most likely isn’t receiving the exposure it needs in order to get sold in today’s market. 

Once a property is listed on the MLS, ideally your College Station real estate agent will continue to market the property with emails to their contacts sharing the details of the property, door knocking the neighborhood to see if any of the neighbors have friends or family looking to move into the community, sending out postcards with information, posting the listing across their social media platforms and doing everything in their power to get as many eyeballs on the listing as possible. The greater the attention on the property the better the chance that your agent will quickly find an interested buyer. 

One tactic that many agents employ when trying to sell a new listing is to also host an open house event at the property. An open house is exactly what it sounds like, the agent sits in the home for a designated time block on specific days and greets potential buyers and their agents as they come to walk the property and see it in person. The seller is not present for the open house – typically the agent will want them to step away for a couple of hours so that potential buyers can freely browse the home in peace without feeling like they are being watched. 

The big question in today’s day and age is do open houses sell houses? How effective is this old school marketing tactic at actually acquiring tangible offers and converting a potential buyer into an open escrow and a sale? Most buyers who are serious about looking for a new home are also working with a College Station real estate professional. Their agent will share information about new homes as they come on the market and then set up private tours of the property for their clients. For the most part, by the time an open house is held for a property a serious buyer has probably already seen it. 

The other thing to note is that with modern technology and software like virtual tours, many buyers won’t even need to physically step foot in a home to determine whether it is a good fit for them or not. A lot of buyers will submit an offer sight unseen and then pay for very thorough inspections to make sure that the property is in good condition physically and not just aesthetically. 

Why do agents host open houses? 

Some agents go to great lengths to showcase an open house – they’ll go all out with balloons, ribbons, catering and refreshments, fresh baked goodies and more. They do this in the hopes that neighbors will stop by so that they can try and earn their business if they are interested in selling their home now or in the future. An open house is a wonderful networking opportunity for a real estate professional because they can meet with new potential clients, expand their professional network by meeting other agents and it allows them the chance to market their personal brand and build up their business. The other reason that an agent is likely to host an open house is simply to make the seller happy. Like we mentioned before, the more attention there is on the property the more likely it is to sell for top dollar and in record time, so even if the open house gets limited attention, you never know if one of those visitors may pass the information on to a more interested buyer.  

Who attends open houses?

Apart from the occasional house hunter, here is a brief list of other candidates who will stop by an active open house:

  • Passersby – When an agent is marketing an open house, they will mark it with their personal branded signage that features arrows pointing in the direction of where the property is located. These signs can oftentimes be seen from a distance, so it’s likely that individuals who are driving by or walking around the neighborhood may stop by to check out the home. 
  • Lookie Loos – Some people really enjoy visiting open houses to see what the home looks like, find inspiration for their own property or they might be individuals who aren’t ready to buy a home just yet but they are interested in looking at the existing inventory as it pops up. There are also people who enjoy going to open houses just for the treats that the agent will prepare and serve!
  • Neighbors – In some communities, neighbors might make up the only people who visit an open house. Neighbors are always interested to see what is going on in their community, they may want to see what the home looks like in comparison to theirs or they may actually turn into a solid lead if they have friends and family who are looking to move into the neighborhood. 
  • Real Estate Agents – Other agents who may have competed for the listing may stop by to see how the home has been prepared for sale. Or an agent may stop by to look at the property on behalf of a client who couldn’t make it on the date and time of the open house. 
  • Criminals – As horrible as this sounds, there’s no better way to case a home than to visit an open house and take stock of the goodies that a thief may want to come back for and steal. This is why it’s important for the agent hosting the open house to be diligent about paying attention to visitors during an open and making sure that nothing gets stolen. 

How do you host a successful open house?

College Station Real estate professionals will estimate that at least 20 percent of their sales are a direct result of an open house, which translates to one in five homes. The best way to host a successful open house so it can turn into a sale is to prepare and present the property in the best way:

  • Choose the best day and time to show – typically this will be a mid-morning to late-afternoon on a weekend
  • Clean and declutter the home, if necessary bring in some rented furniture to stage the property and make it look nicer
  • Create a nice atmosphere so that potential buyers are pleasantly welcomed into the home
  • Open windows and blinds to let in natural light 
  • Don’t use air fresheners, but do light a soft candle
  • Have soft music playing in the background
  • Serve refreshments and snacks, maybe even a catered lunch depending on budget
  • Artfully display pamphlets and brochures that offer more information about the home
  • Interact with visitors 

Once an open house has finished, real estate professionals should always make sure to follow up with any real estate agents or potential buyers who requested more information.

Do open house sell houses? 

Whether or not an agent hosts an open house for a new listing is not going to make or break a sale. It’s impossible to guarantee that an open house will be successful and bring in multiple offers and competing buyers, however what we do know is that an open house won’t hurt the chances of bringing a qualified buyer to the table and selling the home fast. At the end of the day, an open house is just another marketing tactic, and the better the property is marketed the better the chances of the property selling. This also depends on the state of the market – in a seller’s market an agent may walk away from an open house with multiple offers, whereas in a buyer’s market where there is plenty of inventory within the same neighborhood, it may take longer to see a qualified offer regardless of an open house. 

If you are looking to sell your home in College Station, TX contact our team at Brazos County Realty. We would love to meet you and come up with a customized and targeted marketing plan so we can help sell your property quickly, efficiently and for the best price possible! Once we sell your home, we would also be happy to help you find your next dream home. Take some time to look through our featured listings and let us know if anything catches your eye. We can be reached at 979-693-0201 or you contact us online directly.  

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Print
  • Pocket
  • Reddit
Category: Blog

About Myke Leatham

I’m so glad you found me – your College Station and Bryan, TX real estate source! When you choose to buy or sell a home in College Station/Bryan, TX or other surrounding areas using our expert services, you will receive a free consultation to determine your needs, free listings, and free reports sent to you by email. These weekly reports will show you how hard the members of my team are working to accomplish your property goals, and we guarantee the best service and consultation you have ever experienced. You’ll find the best community information for the College Station, Texas region right here.

It’s nice to know YOUR Realtor will still be of service after the sale.

Experience Counts: Broker/Owner of Brazos County Realty
Over 25 years of sales experience. With past ABR, GRI, CRS, & Epro designations.
Continuing education in real estate: Education is paramount in an ever changing industry like Real Estate. Myke has taken over 1000 hours of real estate specific courses which include but are not limited to: Residential Appraisal, Marketing, Law Contracts I & II, Finance, Residential Inspections, Principles and Practice, Law of Agency, Code of Ethics, Bankruptcy/Easements/Surveys/and Probate, Home Warranties, 1031 Exchanges and hundreds of hours of extensive real estate training.

Reputation: SALES LEADER since 1998; Top Producer 2000 through 2009. Listed among the top agents in the county. Consistently ranked among top realtors for total sales volume out of 900 realtors for commercial and residential real estate in the Bryan/College Station, TX area. When Myke represents buyers, she presents all viable options to her clients, including those properties that are not officially listed, but could be available for sale based on her inside information. Her expertise lies with investors and marketing homes of all price ranges in College Station/Bryan to local, national and global buyers, across all major media channels and through her extensive, personal network of contacts.

Myke is among the top 1% of all Realtors in North America!
She has earned the Designations of ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative), CRS(Certified Residential Specialist), GRI (Graduate of Realtors Institute)CHMS (Certified Home Marketing Specialist), and E-pro (Certified Internet Professional)
Fewer than 3% of all Realtors nationwide earn these certifications. They are not only a symbol of Myke’s commitment to this business, but these designations are your assurance of a skilled, trained real estate professional.

Myke is a consummate real estate professional who not only understands the art of deal-making, but also the art of relationships. She makes the process of buying and selling homes an uplifting and fun experience. She has a tremendous appreciation for Bryan and College Station, its rich history, and Texas A&M traditions having lived in the area for 25 years. Her knowledge of Bryan/College Station’s real estate market and market trends is unparalleled. Having been personally involved with clients through their remodeling, purchasing and selling processes, she knows intrinsic quality and value when she sees it. When she doesn’t see it she lets her clients know, without hesitation.
Myke’s proven track record and affiliations in the field of real estate demonstrates her high level of professionalism.

* High energy and enthusiasm
* Aggressive marketing
* Expert negotiating skills
* Ability to listen and ascertain customer’s desires and needs
* Fun to be with
* Internet savvy
* Because Myke is an experienced investor, she quickly helps her customers locate and define good business opportunities. No one likes the feeling of being ‘sold to’ so Myke provides as much information as possible to help you make the right decision.

Personal Commitment:
I am prepared to go the ‘Extra Mile’ for you, because I understand the financial and emotional significance of purchasing and selling your home. I will carefully listen to your desires and arrive at a workable plan. I believe sensitivity, listening, and service are important keys to success.
Whether you are buying or selling a home or you are just curious about your home’s market value, I’d be happy to provide my market expertise and intelectual property without obligation, or meet with you to evaluate your home for future reference. I want my customers to have a great time and enjoy the total process of purchasing or selling property. It gives me great pride when my customerspass my name on to their friends and family. I will continue to work hard to make sure critical information is available at www.AggieRealEstate.com and I invite all interested investors to search my site for cash flow opportunities. I will dedicate my time and talents to helping you achieve your goals. It is my goal to make your buying and selling experience extraordinary. Look closely and you’ll see how much I love meeting and working with people. You’ll experience the difference in working with an experienced and dedicated professional.

Personal information:
Michelle goes by ‘Myke’ and is the proud mother of 6 children – 3 girls and 3 boys. Her husband is David Leatham. They met at Brigham Young University. They have been married since 1977. David is a finance professor, and Associate Head over graduate studies in the Agricultural Economics Department at Texas A&M University, and speaks fluent Spanish. They have lived in College Station since 1983 and loved every minute of it. Myke loves to quilt, sing, swim, ‘sing’, bake bread, ‘sing,’ garden, ‘sing’, sell real estate, and ‘sing some more’ :-). Family, church, and real estate consume most of her time. Truth, honor, integrity, kindness, loyalty, gratitude, and service are very important words to her.

Slogan: ‘Let Myke Help You With Your HOMEwork!’

Referrals: The highest compliment I can get is when you pass my name on to others or post a kind remark on the internet. When you send your friends and family my way, I’ll always provide them with the highest quality of service that I know you would appreciate. Thanks in advance for all your support and friendship.

Previous Post:Best Homes for A&M Employees
Next Post:College Station & Bryan need Volunteers through ‘JustServe’

Brazos County Realty

Your leading resource to search for College Station homes and BCS real estate. Let us help you find your dream home in Bryan & College Station, Texas!

Contact Us
Company

13464 I and GN Rd.
College Station, Texas 77845

Phone: 979-693-0201
Email: [email protected]

Navigation

About Myke

Featured Properties

Search Properties

Rentals

Quick Search By Area

IDX Sitemap

Resources

Areas of Expertise

Homes for Sale

College Station Houses

MLS

Land & Investment Properties

Additional Info

Information About Brokerage Services

TREC Consumer Protection Notice

Still Have Questions?
Get More Information

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

AggieRealEstate.com is Not Affiliated With Texas A&M University. Copyright © 2023 · All Rights Reserved · Made With ⚡ By imFORZA

 

Loading Comments...