Open Houses: Do They Still Work? My Answer Might Surprise You.

Every so often, I hear someone ask the question:

"Do open houses even work anymore?"

It's a fair question. Some REALTORS® love them. Some avoid them completely. The truth?

Both sides have good arguments.

But if you're wondering where I stand...

I love hosting open houses.

Maybe not for the reasons you'd expect.

More Than Unlocking the Front Door

By the time I host an open house, this isn't the first time I've walked through the home.

I've already spent hours there. There was our first appointment together. Then conversations about pricing. Then staging. Professional photography. Video. Marketing. Learning what makes the home special from the people who know it best—the sellers. By then, I know the square footage, the updates, the neighborhood, and the features.

But an open house gives me something I don't always get during those busy appointments.

Time.

Quiet time.

Time to simply sit in the home.

Homes Tell Stories

Sometimes I'll stand in the kitchen and imagine Thanksgiving dinner spread across the island. I'll look toward the fireplace and picture a toddler taking those first wobbly steps while proud parents cheer rom the couch. I'll walk into the backyard and imagine graduation parties, birthday celebrations, or neighbors gathering on a warm Oklahoma evening. Sometimes I think about parents standing in the driveway, watching their teenager pull away for the very first time with a freshly earned driver's license.

Those moments haven't happened for me.

But they've happened for someone.

And they'll happen again for someone else.

That's the beauty of a home.

A house is made of walls, windows, and wood.

A home is made of stories.

The more time I spend there, the better I understand how to tell its next story to future buyers.

"Not Everyone Who Comes Is a Buyer."

That's probably the biggest criticism of open houses. And it's true. Not everyone walking through the front door is ready to write an offer. Some visitors already have an agent—which is wonderful. They can always schedule a private showing afterward with their REALTOR® if they decide the home is the right fit. Some are just beginning their search and aren't quite ready to reach out to an agent yet. Sometimes walking through an open house is the easiest first step. Some are neighbors. They're curious. They're excited to see what updates have been made.

They're not buying...

...but they know people who might be.

And yes...

Some are simply "looky-loos." They enjoy touring homes. They visit lots of open houses.

But here's something I've learned after years in real estate:

Every person who walks through that front door knows someone.

Word travels. Especially in Stillwater.

A neighbor tells a coworker.

A parent tells another family at the ball fields.

A friend mentions the home over coffee.

Someone remembers the backyard.

Someone else remembers the kitchen.

Someone says, "You really should go see that one."

In a community like ours, word-of-mouth marketing is incredibly valuable.

An open house doesn't stop when the sign comes down. The conversations continue long after I've packed up my brochures. The visibility continues. The home stays in people's minds. And sometimes, that's exactly what it takes to connect the right buyer with the right home.

Then There Are Days Like This...

Earlier this year, I hosted an open house that had been fairly quiet. The end time was approaching, and I started gathering a few things. Then, with about five minutes left, a couple pulled into the driveway. They were from out of town and had rushed over, hoping they hadn't missed it.

Of course, I stayed. There was no reason to hurry them. Buying a home shouldn't feel rushed. They took their time. Asked thoughtful questions. Walked through the rooms more than once. I could see them beginning to picture themselves living there.

The next day...

They wrote an offer.

Had I packed up five minutes early?

That story might have ended differently.

So...Do Open Houses Work?

Sometimes they produce an offer that afternoon.

Sometimes they introduce the home to future buyers.

Sometimes they generate conversations that continue for weeks.

Sometimes they simply give neighbors something exciting to talk about.

And sometimes...

They give me another opportunity to better understand a home so I can tell its story even better.

That's why you'll continue to see me hosting open houses. Not because every visitor will buy.

But because every visitor creates another opportunity.

Another conversation.

Another connection.

Another chapter in the story of that home.

And every once in a while...

Five minutes before closing...

Someone walks through the front door and discovers exactly where they're meant to be.

If you're thinking about selling your home in Stillwater or the surrounding communities, I'd love the opportunity to tell your home's story—through thoughtful marketing, meaningful conversations, and yes, maybe even an open house.

Because you never know who might walk through the front door.