The Open House Truth: What Really Happens When the Doors Open

You will hear a lot of people say open houses do not sell homes. I understand why. Most visitors are neighbors, early browsers, or people just curious about the inside.

But this summer, I sold a $1.9 million home in Poway to a buyer who first walked in at my own open house.

Open houses do not sell every home. But run the right way, they create real opportunities.

The difference is not whether you hold an open house. It is how you run it.

Here is the truth about open houses:

Treat It Like a Launch, Not a Waiting Room. A strong open house is prepared, promoted, and timed for when buyer interest is highest, usually the first weekend on the market.

Every Visitor Matters. The neighbor who walks through today might know the buyer who writes the offer tomorrow. Curious visitors talk, and good homes get talked about.

Follow Up Like It Counts. The open house is only the start. Following up with every serious visitor is where real conversations, and real offers, happen.

The market is fair, but it is not forgiving. An open house will not fix the wrong price, but a well-run one can put the right buyer at your front door.

Next week, I am going to share the "Relocation Timeline" for families moving in or out of San Diego this summer.