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Maybe I’m not an Epic Failure after all

IMG_0410If you’ve read this blog for very long, you know that I fail more often than I succeed. Or maybe I just expound on my “agony of defeat” moments in this space more often. In either case, there are times I feel like an Epic Failure.

And when I do, my first thought is often, “Well, at least I’m epic at something.”

Yeah. Pathetic.

I ranted about an open house in this space. This was about a year ago. My husband and I were trying the “for sale by owner” route to capitalize on the full amount of equity we have in our home.

It was a complete and total bust. If you want to revisit my disappointment, you can read about it here.

Recently, my realtor hosted two open houses. She chose Sunday afternoon (“More people attend on Sundays”) between 1 and 3pm. Yes, at least she knows better than to hold the thing for more than a couple hours. Why waste a whole day? (Why didn’t I ask myself this question last year?)

And it was a waste. Shouldn’t I feel bummed about this? Probably. But we’ve already established that I am a writer and therefore not normal.

I actually smiled. My brain danced around a Maypole singing at the top of its lungs, “I’m not a failure. I’m not a failure.” (And now you know why I don’t share what’s going on in my head – out loud – very often.)

I was glad no one had showed up. It meant that the whole open house fiasco last year had nothing to do with me. An open house isn’t an effective way to draw interested people to your property.

Since my newspaper ad got the most calls, I’m going to guess this is where the home buyers are looking. The ad for the open house? Nothing. Because people don’t want to check out houses in that manner.

I don’t really understand why not. I know I considered going to a couple of these events held at houses in Hillsboro that might fit our criteria for our next home. We didn’t go, however. It makes me wonder if most people consider it and then just find something better to do on Sunday afternoon. Like take a nap.

What is your take on this selling method that is widely used but doesn’t seem highly successful? Why do you think people don’t come to an open house?

3 thoughts on “Maybe I’m not an Epic Failure after all”

  1. We’ve sold two houses, the first FSBO and we sold it for almost full asking price. The second we used a realtor because we had more on the line (*had* to sell it because of my husband’s job loss) and it didn’t turn out as well financially as the first one. We held open houses with both homes and both buyers came to our open houses. But, I think most people look for houses online, which is why the photos are so important. We never placed a paper ad for either of our homes. Selling a home is like trying to predict when you’ll die–there are all sorts of tools to help you get an estimate, but they’re rarely right. Still wishing you good luck!

    1. Thanks, Kelly. I believe the right person will come along at the right time. I’m really not in a hurry to do the whole moving thing anyway, but my husband is getting antsy to “get on with it.”

  2. Pingback: In Search of Home | Sharon Lee Hughson

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