Ask Phyllis: a blog series of frequently asked real estate questions.
Open house hosts
Dear Phyllis,
My aunt passed, and I was the trustee. I hired the Realtor that my attorney strongly recommended. He put together a marketing strategy that included a Realtor’s open house and weekend open houses. Although he is part of a team, I mostly dealt with him or his transaction coordinator. He held the home open for the Realtors’ open house, but not for the public open houses. We did sell the La Canada home in two weeks for more than asking. But I am still bothered that he didn’t take the time to manage the public open houses. Am I wrong to be put off by that? GB
Dear GB,
You expected your agent to stay visible throughout the process. However, real estate rarely runs on a simple schedule. Agents work weekdays with lenders, escrow, and title companies. Then, we shift to buyers and showings on weekends. As a result, many experienced agents rely on trusted colleagues to host public open houses.
Also, this approach can help your sale. A different agent may market to a different social media audience. In turn, that added exposure can create more interest and stronger offers.
If your agent never explained who would host the opens, you have a valid concern. Clear expectations should come first. A quick conversation at the start would have prevented this frustration. Even so, the results matter. Your agent sold the home in two weeks and obtained a price above asking. Based on that outcome, your agent delivered exactly what you hired them to do.
