Edward Church
Senior Director, Estate Agency
Want to attract more interest in your home this spring? Asking prices increased by 0.3% month on month in March in England and Wales, the latest property index* shows. These green shoots of market recovery are encouraging prospective sellers to make the move, so what better way to launch your house onto the market this spring than with an Open House Day?
A buyer can walk into a home on a viewing and take just 30 seconds to decide if they like it. For those houses with instant kerb appeal, taking part in National Open House Day is a fantastic opportunity to show it off. Edward Church, at Strutt & Parker Canterbury , explains: “If a prospective buyer immediately likes your house, but there are six other couples also walking around commenting on how much they also like the property, this competitive edge can naturally encourage them to put in an offer sooner. Similarly, if a buyer sees a house they like before our National Open House Day starts, it is not uncommon for an early offer to be secured in order to take it offline, so as not to risk losing it.”
Leading estate agency Strutt & Parker has held successful Open House events across its national network of offices biannually for seven years. It allows buyers who register with them the chance to view any property on their books - on the same day and at the same time - between 11am and 3pm.
Since 2009, the amount of properties taking part has soared by 28% and the number of viewers has increased by 41%. “Its success is down to a few key elements”, says Edward. “No fixed appointment times mean it’s flexible and convenient and, as it’s for one day only, there’s also a sense of excitement around the properties. As a seller, having lots of viewings in one day saves a lot of time for busy families.”
“Choice is also a huge draw for buyers. In previous years, people who were curious about the local market but not seriously considering buying have changed their minds after Open House Day. Seeing the properties available on Open House Day turned them from tyre kickers into serious buyers.”
Although 90% of searches start online, nothing replaces seeing a property in real life. Open House Days are a useful marketing tool to get more people through the door. Strutt & Parker’s next event will be held on Saturday 12th May, perfectly timed to reach spring buyers. Edward says: “Despite our cold winter, by May we should have sunnier days and gardens in bloom. So all that’s left is for sellers to prepare their homes for viewings – spring cleaning starts now!”
If you are selling your house and want to take part in Strutt & Parker’s National Open House Day, contact your local Strutt & Parker office or visit our Open House Day registration.