Rochester Real Estate | LOCAL Homes For Sale https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com Rochester Real Estate | LOCAL Homes For Sale | Homes for sale in Rochester, NY, LOCAL Rochester real estate listings, market data, REALTOR® info, and high quality content updated every 15 minutes! Wed, 25 Jun 2025 11:50:30 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/cropped-SITE-LOGO-512-x-512-1-32x32.png The Pros And Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate – Rochester Real Estate | LOCAL Homes For Sale https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com 32 32 June Home Maintenance Checklist: 40+ Must-Do Tasks to Prepare Your Home for Summer https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/june-home-maintenance-checklist-summer-prep/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20501 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> May Home Maintenance Checklist: 30 Essential Tasks to Prepare Your Home for Summer https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/may-home-maintenance-checklist/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20484 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> April Home Maintenance Checklist: How To Prepare Your Rochester NY Home For Spring https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/april-home-maintenance-checklist/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20364 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> March Home Maintenance Checklist: Get Your New York Home Ready for Spring https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/march-home-maintenance-checklist/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20338 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How to Buy a House in New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/buy-a-house-in-new-york/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19906 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How to Sell a House in New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/sell-a-house-in-new-york/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19905 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Risks of Buying a Non-Warrantable Condo In New York: What You Need to Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/non-warrantable-condo/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19796 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Builders Should Know About Spec Construction Loans In New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/builders-spec-construction-loans/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19795 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Moving To The Finger Lakes Region Of New York | Guide To Relocating To The Finger Lakes https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/moving-to-the-finger-lakes-region/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19875 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Navigating the Numbers: The Pros and Cons of Using Online Home Value Estimators For New York Real Estate https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pros-cons-online-home-value-estimators/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19794 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Role of Location in Home Valuation In New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/role-of-location-home-valuation/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19768 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Lowe’s vs U-Haul: A Review of Truck Rental Companies https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/lowes-vs-uhaul/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19758 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Understanding the Importance of a Seller’s Property Condition Disclosure https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/property-condition-disclosure-statement/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19632 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What are Delayed Showings and Negotiations in Real Estate In New York? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/delayed-showings-negotiations/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19547 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 8 Viable Tactics to Selling Your Home and Moving Out of State https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/selling-home-moving-out-of-state/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19542 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Unconventional Methods for Selling a House: Thinking Outside the Box https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/unconventional-methods-for-selling-a-house/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19519 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Should I Sell My House Off Market: Pros and Cons Explained https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/sell-house-off-market/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19503 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What is PITI and How Does It Affect Your Mortgage https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-is-piti/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19498 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How To Set A Home Renovation Budget https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-renovation-budget/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19490 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How Does A Co-Borrowers Credit Scores Affect A Home Purchase? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/co-borrower-credit-score/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19474 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> New Construction Final Walk-Through Checklist: Ensuring a Seamless Home Inspection https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/new-construction-final-walk-through/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19458 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Essential Tips for Pumping a Septic Tank: What You Need to Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pumping-a-septic-tank/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19450 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Can You Submit Multiple Offers On Homes At Once – A Legal And Ethical Analysis https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/multiple-offers-on-homes-at-once/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19414 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How to Get Your Home Photo Ready for Real Estate Listings https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-photo-ready/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19409 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Does a Home Builder’s Warranty Cover? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-builders-warranty/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19394 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> July 2023 Greater Rochester NY Area Real Estate Market Update https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/july-2023-rochester-ny-real-estate-market-update/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19403 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Who Pays Real Estate Commission When You Buy or Sell a Home https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-commission/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19366 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Quitclaim Deeds: What You Need to Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/quitclaim-deeds/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19358 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What to Know About Selling a Home As Is for Cash https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/selling-home-as-is-cash/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19347 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How to Know if My House Has Paranormal Activity https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/is-my-house-haunted/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19342 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Why Find The History of a House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/find-history-house/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19316 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> June 2023 Greater Rochester NY Area Real Estate Market Update https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/june-2023-rochester-ny-area-real-estate-market-update/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19313 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Does a Real Estate Lawyer Do? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-lawyer/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19181 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> May 2023 Greater Rochester NY Area Real Estate Market Update https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/may-2023-rochester-ny-area-real-estate-market-update/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19162 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What to Know About Buying a Home For The First Time https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/buying-home-first-time/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19058 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> <strong>What Should a Buyer Look For at a Home Inspection?</strong> https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-look-for-home-inspection/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18983 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Companies That Buy Houses For Cash Reviewed https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/companies-buy-houses-for-cash/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18889 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Does Home Staging Work and What is The Cost? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/does-home-staging-work/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18814 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What to Avoid When Getting a Mortgage https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/avoid-when-getting-mortgage/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18797 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> <strong>5 Options For Replacing a Roof Reviewed</strong> https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/replacing-roof/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18771 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Are Restrictive Covenants in Real Estate? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/restrictive-covenants/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18714 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Can The Court Force The Sale of Your House in Divorce? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/court-force-sale-divorce/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18693 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Real Estate Agent vs. Broker: What&#8217;s The Difference? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-agent-vs-broker/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18650 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How To Determine Square Feet In Your House For More Accurate Property Estimates https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/determine-square-feet/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18167 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 3 Things That Often Results in a Real Estate Agent Getting Sued https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-agent-sued/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18133 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Top 5 Types Of Home Inspections Buyers Should Consider https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-types-home-inspections/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18119 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Pros And Cons Of Rent To Own Homes: What You Need To Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pros-cons-rent-own-homes/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18104 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 5 Smart Things To Do Before Moving That Will Help Ease Your Transition https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/things-before-moving/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18084 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How to Become a Real Estate Agent https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/become-real-estate-agent/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18071 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Renting A House Or An Apartment: Which Is The Better Option https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/renting-house-apartment/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17871 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The 5 Most Important Factors To Consider When Buying A House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-factors-buying-house/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17851 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Buyers And Sellers Need To Know About An Appraisal Gap https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/appraisal-gap/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17827 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Pros And Cons Of Renting With Roommates – What You Need To Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/renting-with-roommates/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17794 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 6 Things You Should Know About Buying Land https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/things-know-buying-land/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17773 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How Long Should Home Sellers Wait To Respond To An Offer On Their Home? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-sellers-wait-respond-offer/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17745 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How To Buy A House With A Low Credit Score https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-buy-a-house-with-a-low-credit-score/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16819 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Things To Consider When Shipping A Car https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/things-to-consider-when-shipping-a-car/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16248 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Home Depot Truck Rentals: What to Know Including Pricing https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-depot-truck-rentals-what-to-know-including-pricing/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16156 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 16 Things To Do Before Listing Your Home For Sale https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/16-things-to-do-before-listing-your-home-for-sale/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16138 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Biggest Home Inspection Mistakes to Avoid https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/biggest-home-inspection-mistakes-to-avoid/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16112 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How Your Credit Score Impacts Your Ability To Buy A House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-credit-score-impacts-buying-house/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16086 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Top Winter Home Selling Mistakes | 7 Errors Made While Selling A House During The Winter https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-winter-home-selling-mistakes/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16051 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Top Winter Home Buying Mistakes | 11 Errors Made While Buying A House During The Winter https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/winter-home-buying-mistakes/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16013 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Address Change Form Should I Use At The Post Office? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/address-change-form-post-office/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15981 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Does Contingent Status Mean in Real Estate? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-does-contingent-status-mean-real-estate/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15956 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> DIY Renovation Ideas For Your Backyard https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/diy-renovation-ideas-backyard/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15937 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How to Rent Your First Apartment Guide https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-rent-an-apartment/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15931 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Tips For Selling A Home Virtually https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/tips-selling-a-home-virtually/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15907 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Complete Winter Storage Checklist For Your Belongings https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/winter-storage-checklist/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15885 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Should I Waive My Home Inspection When Buying A House? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/should-i-waive-my-home-inspection/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15870 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Biggest Self Storage Companies Reviewed https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/biggest-self-storage-companies/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15836 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Earnest Money and House Deposits Explained https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/earnest-money-house-deposits-explained/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15760 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Moving Mistakes To Avoid https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/moving-mistakes-to-avoid/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15568 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Top Mortgage Myths | Demystifying Common Home Loan Misconceptions https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-mortgage-myths/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15102 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes to Avoid https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/first-time-home-buyer-mistakes/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=14815 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 10 Tips For Adding Appeal To Your Home This Summer https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/10-tips-adding-appeal-to-home-this-summer/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=14237 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Exploring The Merits of Smart Home Technology When Selling a Home https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/smart-home-technology-selling-a-home/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13782 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Top Frequently Asked Questions From Home Sellers https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-frequently-asked-questions-home-sellers/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=2424 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> First Time Home Buyer Programs In Rochester NY &#8211; Updated January 2025 https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/first-time-home-buyer-programs/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock http://rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=580 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How New Doors &#038; Windows Can Boost Your Home Value https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-new-doors-windows-boost-your-home-value/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13643 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Top 5 Things To Know When Flipping Your First House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-things-to-know-when-flipping-your-first-house/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13574 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Are The Best Mortgage Options for Self Employed Borrowers? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/mortgage-options-for-self-employed-borrowers/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13450 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Top 10 Best Places To See Christmas Lights In Rochester NY https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-10-best-places-see-christmas-lights-rochester-ny/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=10236 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Are The PROs And CONs Of Multifamily Homes? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-multifamily-homes/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13219 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> What Low-Cost Home Improvements Should You Make Before Selling Your Home? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/low-cost-home-improvements-you-should-make-before-selling-your-home/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13114 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 15 Things Millennial Home Buyers Look At While Buying A House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/15-things-millennial-home-buyers-look-at-while-buying-a-house/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13028 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How Does A Fence Increase The Value Of Your Home https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-does-a-fence-increase-the-value-of-your-home/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12995 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 5 Simple &#038; Low Cost Fixes To Make Your Home More Appealing To Buyers https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-simple-and-low-cost-fixes-to-make-your-home-more-appealing-to-buyers/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12779 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How To Improve A Homes Curb Appeal In Rochester NY https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-improve-a-homes-curb-appeal-rochester-ny/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12665 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 7 Ways to Create an Energy-Efficient Home While Conserving Your Budget https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/7-ways-create-an-energy-efficient-home/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12633 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Hiring Movers Vs. Moving Yourself | The PROs &#038; CONs Of Each https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/hiring-movers-vs-moving-yourself/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12592 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Should You Pay Off Student Loans Before Purchasing a Home? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pay-off-student-loans-before-purchasing-a-home/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12531 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Should I Build A New Home Or Buy An Existing Home? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/should-i-build-a-new-home-or-buy-an-existing-home/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=2497 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> Buying A Condo Vs. Renting A Condo | What Are The PROs &#038; CONs? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/buying-a-condo-vs-renting-a-condo/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12402 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 9 Money Saving Moving Tips | How To Cut Costs When Moving https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/9-money-saving-moving-tips/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12341 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> How to Create a Proper Home Maintenance Checklist https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-create-a-proper-home-maintenance-checklist/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12300 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> 5 Tips For Tenant Screening | How To Weed Out Bad Tenant Applicants https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/tips-for-tenant-screening/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12291 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Best Social Media Blogs For Real Estate From 2017 https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/best-social-media-blogs-2017/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12045 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Best Home Improvement Blogs From 2017 | Advice For Home Remodeling https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/best-home-improvement-blogs-2017/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12044 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]> The Best Mortgage Blogs From 2017 | Advice For Home Financing https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/best-mortgage-blogs-2017/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:36 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12043 The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses in Real Estate[/caption] Open houses in real estate are a highly debated topic both by home owners and also real estate professionals.  In fact, this article is sure to spark some debate between home owners and also real estate professionals. The truth is that some seller's will insist that having open houses are something that will sell their homes, others will want nothing to do with open houses, and some seller's will be on the fence.  The same can be said about some real estate professionals.  Some will swear that open houses are a critical event to have, other Realtors will never hold open houses, and others will periodically have open houses. So, if you're selling a home, should you have open houses?  Almost any decision that has to be made will have it's positive outcomes but also it's negative outcomes, and this is no different when it comes to open houses in real estate.  Ultimately, if you're selling a home and you're unsure whether you want to have open houses, you need to be aware of the possible positives from having an open house but also need to be aware of the possible negative results from an open house. Below are the pros and cons of open houses in real estate.  Having a strong understanding of these pros and cons can make it much easier to decide if open houses are something you should participate in or not. Pros To Holding Open Houses Attract Buyers Who May Not Know How To Start The Home Buying Process Buying a home is not a process that most are familiar with, especially first time home buyer's.  Home buyer's often need a significant amount of guidance, tips, and advice throughout the home buying process.  Some buyer's don't even know whether they should contact a Realtor or a bank first when buying a home. A potential positive to deciding to hold open houses is the possibility of a home buyer who does not know how to start the home buying process will attend.  A home buyer who may see a sign on the corner of a street when driving may potentially stop and get more information from the hosting Realtor on the home buying process.  More buyer's in the market is a positive for any seller, of course, if they are qualified buyer's. Additional Exposure Choosing a Realtor based solely on the fact they will hold open houses every week is one of the biggest mistakes seller's make when choosing a Realtor.  One of the most important things for a Realtor selling a home is making sure their clients home is getting a ton of exposure.  Without maximum exposure and a strong marketing system, the chances of a home selling are greatly reduced. Open houses can give additional exposure to a seller's home.  Whether it's street signs, newspaper ads, or internet ads that are promoting the open house, having an open house can lead to additional exposure. [caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure Open Houses Allow Potential Buyers To Look At A Home Without Pressure[/caption] Allows Buyers To Not Feel Pressured Open houses, in general, are very laid back events.  The majority of real estate professionals who host open houses will allow buyer's to tour the home with little to no pressure.  Obviously there are some Realtors who feel they should be hard selling their seller's home, but unfortunately this usually just makes them look like a fool. Open houses normally give buyer's the option to view a home without the pressure of a Realtor or seller.  Some buyer's like to analyze a home in detail without having a time constraint or pressure.  This can allow a buyer to identify whether they like a home and also look at the items that they should be looking at when viewing homes. Allows Realtors To Pick Up New Buyer's How is a Realtor picking up new buyers a positive for a home seller?  It's not!  Unfortunately, many real estate agents fail to mention this to a seller as a pro of open houses because it does not benefit them. Many potential buyer's who visit open houses have yet to establish a relationship with a Realtor.  This gives the hosting Realtor the opportunity to convert this buyer into one of their buyer's.  If you're a home owner thinking of selling, it's important you understand that a Realtor may host an open house with the intention of not selling your home, but to pick up additional buyer's. Cons To Holding Open Houses Slim Chance Of A Sale Are open houses necessary to sell a home?  The answer is absolutely not!  The percentage of homes that actually sell as a result of an open house is less than 2-3%. How do homes get sold then if they are not being sold at open houses?  When selling a home, you want there to be private showings.  The majority of homes are sold when a buyer has a Realtor, requests an appointment, and tours your home privately.  The crowd that an open house attracts is more than likely not going to be the crowd that is going to purchase the home. Unqualified Buyers One of the first steps in the home buying process is obtaining a mortgage pre-approval.  It's important to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for many reasons when buying a home.  One drawback to having open houses is the possibility of unqualified buyer's attending the open house. Would you want people walking through your home that cannot afford to buy it?  Of course not!  It's next to impossible to screen open house attendees to ensure they are qualified to purchase the home. [caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos Open Houses Are Great For Attracting Nosy Neighbors & Lookie-Loos[/caption] Nosy Neighbors & "Lookie-Loos" Another negative to holding open houses is the fact that they do an excellent job attracting nosy neighbors and "lookie-loos."  Nosy neighbors love to stop at an open house to see how their neighbors home compares to their own.  In addition to seeing how their home compares, neighbors like to stop at their neighbors open houses to see how the house is decorated. What are "lookie-loos?"  A "lookie-loo" is a person who stops at open houses with absolutely no intention of buying a home.  Sounds pretty silly, right?  It happens quite often and the fact is, these people are never going to buy the home and are looking because they don't have anything better to do. Security Issues Break-ins and vandalizing are two things that are a reality.  The chances of this happening increase when selling a home, especially if you're selling a vacant home.  Open houses allow criminals the opportunity to explore a home with little to no supervision and can give them the opportunity to plan out their crime. Recently while selling a home in Rochester, NY, the home was broken into and the copper plumbing was stolen and the property was damaged a couple weeks after an open house.  Whether the crime was a direct result from one of the open house attendees is unknown, however, there are stories developing across the United States of people "casing" homes during open houses.  Before deciding whether to have an open house or not, you need to consider the security issues. Possible Theft If you decide to hold an open house, make sure you remove all valuable items before the open house event.  The possibility for theft during an open house does exist.  There are criminals out there who will steal not only valuable jewelry and electronics, but also will steal prescription drugs and other items. If you decide to hold open houses, make sure you discuss with your Realtor their procedures on open houses.  Do they take any additional precautionary steps?  The most important thing is to understand that theft can happen and no Realtor will take the responsibility for missing items from an open house. Final Thoughts The pros and cons of open houses need to be carefully considered before deciding whether open houses are worth it or not.  Personally, I believe open houses have many more negatives than positives and are merely just a common real estate myth.  Open houses are "old fashioned" and today's home buyer's are very savvy and do most of their research online, before visiting a home. There are many things that a Realtor should be doing before they need to resort to using open houses as a "selling" tactic.  Below are several of the things a top producing Realtor will provide as well as some questions you should consider when interviewing a Realtor to sell your home.
  • Captures excellent photographs of a home utilizing high quality equipment and technology.
  • Has a strong online presence including the ability of their website to rank highly in competitive search terms on the major search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!
  • Understands the importance of search engine optimization.
  • Has a strong social media presence on many social media websites, such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many others.
  • Demonstrates the drive to go above and beyond to develop videos, feature sheets, property information packets, and other marketing materials.
  • Clearly demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to provide top notch service.
  • How many homes do you sell a year when representing the seller's?
  • What is your average list price to sale price ratio?
Other Resources Related To Open Houses  If you're selling a home in Rochester, NY or thinking of selling your home?  It's critical that you consider all of the pros and cons to open houses before deciding whether you'll have them or not.  If you're still unsure whether open houses will be worth it or not, contact me, and I'd love to share my expertise on how I can get your home sold, without open houses.
Subscribe To Our Blog (it's FREE) & You'll Receive All The Top Real Estate Tips, Trends, News, and More in your e-mail inbox!:Delivered by FeedBurner
About the authors:  The above article "The Pros and Cons Of Open Houses In Real Estate" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>