Open Houses Are Back: What Does This Mean for You?

By DANIELLE FLYNN | Special to the Palisadian-Post

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, more than 50% of Los Angeles County residents over the age of 16 have been fully vaccinated. Specifically in Pacific Palisades, more than 75 % of residents are vaccinated.

Paired with a decrease in COVID-19 cases altogether, Public Health has made some changes in our daily lives. One of them, pertaining to the real estate industry, is the reintroduction of open houses.

After over a year of virtual showings, limited in-person contact and conversations over the phone, sellers, buyers and real estate agents alike can now utilize open houses in their marketing strategy for their home.

While there are still certain guidelines, such as social distancing, wearing masks and using proper sanitization between parties, people can finally leverage the endless benefits of open houses.

A few of those benefits involve marketing, convenience and creating an experience that cannot be achieved virtually. Sellers who host open houses are maximizing their marketing power by allowing several people in a short range of time to view their home.

By increasing the initial visibility of a home, sellers can potentially shorten the home’s time on the market. This holds an incredible power of convenience, for both the seller and the buyer, when it comes to scheduling and having to potentially accommodate several individual showings around busy schedules. It also enables sellers to receive pertinent information and feedback from potential buyers instantly, and make changes they see fit.

During COVID-19, we utilized all things virtual, such as showings, video tours and professional photos, also known as virtual staging. There are some key proponents that are lost in translation when getting accustomed to a property virtually versus showing it in person.

When a buyer can take the time to walk through a home and soak it all in, fully envisioning it being their very own and understanding how it would feel to live there, there is a shift in emotion. An emotion that excites them, it shows them that the possibilities are endless in the property if they were to purchase it.

Showing a home in person can help the seller highlight some amazing and unique features you can’t fully grasp online—such as the coziness of cuddling up next to the living room fireplace, the stunning view out the window of the master bedroom, the layout of the home or, most importantly, the neighborhood it is in.

When you purchase a home, you also purchase the neighborhood that comes along with it. When a buyer can drive into a neighborhood and see children playing or couples cooking out on a sunny Sunday afternoon, they can envision their own future selves doing these things with their own family and neighbors. They can also familiarize themselves with the surrounding schools, parks, daycare centers, grocery stores and amenities offered nearby.

After over a year of isolation, people are eager to jump back into finding a sense of community. If buyers can fall in love with the community aspect, it can correlate strongly to them falling in love with the home itself.

Whether it is selling or buying your next home, it is important to find a trusted real estate agent that specializes in your area, who knows how to maximize the benefits of hosting open houses.

Danielle Flynn is a sales partner with Amalfi Estates, which has sold $1.5 billion in properties and was selected by the WSJ as one of the top 25 agents in the country out of more than one million agents. If you are thinking of buying a home or selling your own, contact Danielle Flynn at 310-709-0899 or danielle@amalfiestates.com.