Where are all these open house signs coming from? If you’ve lived in the greater-Charlotte area for the past few years, open house signs were few and far between.  We’ve lived in such a strong seller’s market that open houses were pretty much unnecessary—houses were selling so quickly, with multiple offers, that there wasn’t time to hold one.

With the rising interest rates, though, homes are staying on the market longer, and we’re starting to see those red arrows with balloons attached at the entrance of neighborhoods again. As homes stay on the market longer, Realtors are trying to do everything they can to market their listings.  The question is, though, do open houses work, and are they worth the seller vacating the home for most of the day?

Open houses can work, but mostly you’re going to get nosy neighbors and what some like to call “Looky-loos.” People who are out for a walk, on the way to run an errand, and then just decide to stop in and take a look if they have the time.  Serious buyers in this lot? Probably not.

Basically, if someone is serious about buying a home, they most likely have a Realtor, and that Realtor has them set up on a search based on what the buyer is looking for in a home. If your home matches that criteria, the buyer already knows about it, and if they are interested enough by the pictures and description online, they will make an appointment to see the home with their Realtor.

Every now and then luck can strike, though, and all the stars can align so that the timing works perfectly—the buyer is beginning their search at the exact same time the seller decides to do an open house. Or a couple thinking of moving to the area is here just for the weekend to check things out and stumble upon their perfect home in the process.  That is rare, though. So, when listing a a house, the choice is up to you—how much do you believe in luck?