Andrews, the southern-based chain, has announced three open house weekends in September, on consecutive Saturdays (September 10, 17 and 24).
They will feature a wide selection of new properties, many of which the firm says will have one-off price reductions for these weekends only.
The firm is anticipating that hundreds of sellers will take part in the open days, with their homes tagged with blue stickers on the For Sale boards and all marketing.
A large number of existing and new sellers have already signed up to take part in the weekends, and will be opening up their properties for a specific time slot for potential buyers to view.
Comments
Watching: "This is a fantastic example of Corporate stupidity. This is why any good agents became an independant."
Funny you say that. At least four independents in my neck of the woods are doing open days.
Guess stupidity ain't confined to corporate business, huh? ;o)
"one-off price reductions for these weekends only" these will look good on vizzihome and RM archive and will totally confuse surveyors Not Good News For The Sellers.
This is a fantastic example of Corporate stupidity. This is why any good agents became an independant.
What burke at head office dreamt this up?
We love open days. our team visits and views all our oppos property chats to unhappy vendors and wins instructions! simples
"The firm is anticipating that hundreds of sellers will take part"
That's gonna be a lot of disappointed sellers then.
Ric is quite correct. Prices need to come down and if you're too spineless to tell the vendor straight, it's a handy way to sow the seed with buyers that a sensible starting price is the "for one weekend only" reduced one.
I worked for Les Connell as an 'Office Boy' in his very first office and do you know I cannot remember any computers at all!
*** NEWS FLASH ***
Andrews Managers thinking of career changes!
Looking for ways to earn money driving their customers away?
Taxi Drivers.
Country Lass, thanks for confirming that.
I aslo heard that computers are being withdrawn from their sister company, Sequence. How can you expect to compete in the new high tech world of estate agency without the most simple thing that we all take for granted, the internet.
There used to be some fine names it that group before they all became "Conellised".
Spot on AC - The Countrywide ones doing this in September have "reduced for this event only" next to the advertisement of the open day. (on some of them)
AS IF........... - Its simply a directive from the last management meeting saying, we need more sales and ,lower prices AND to acheive them....the best thing we can do is an OPEN DAY event.....and to be a part of it they must reduce.
They would be better off saying "you've had pi55 all interest in 8 weeks, get your price down I lied to you on the valuation.....PS your stuck in a 26 week contract so what else are you gunna do"
19 posts about how good / bad open days are...
It must be the end of August.
I have to say that you are all right.
They can be a monumental waste of time.
They can be very succesful.
The one thing that you might have missed though is that Andrews have persuaded their vednors to reduce their prices (if only for the weekend...?)
If I will take £300k on Saturday, I probably will in two weeks.
They can also turn round to the owner and say "See what a £25k reduction did? Look how many viewings it generated (or not) - we should carry on until sold"
Also, if all the competiton has spent the summer going "Well it is quiet, but it is the summer you know" they will lose instructions to the local agent with a "NEW" idea.
Seems like a plan to me.
Also, it's an awful lot better than I came up with.
It won't work, but good luck anyway.
Andrews, don't insult our intelligence by expecting us to believe that by a week on Tuesday the vendor will not consider an offer equal to the 'one-off price reductions for these weekends only.'
I've no idea whether open days work or not but we wouldn't have a day to spare, we're too busy with serious viewers. The concern I have is that with 7 or 8 people milling about, a property soon starts to look crowded.
There is also this view with some EAs that the viewing is largely unimportant and that a viewer either likes the property or doesn't. Sometimes a viewer needs help and advice to understand how the property can work for them. Another point is that having vendors present during viewings is often the kiss of death however well meaning they are.
It might bag them a few MAs though.
Chris, no Connells don't use computers for all staff, just the FA and the manager.
Errr? Aren't poundshops open from 9 - 5 with cheaper prices than most other places??
Sounds exactly like the same principle that is being employed here mr anonymous poster. Your point makes no sense.
Fair play to them for doing something else other than the normal sit back and read EAT, it's a USP that will probably get them some local coverage and a few more listings.
WHO CARES!!!!!!! So Andrews do open house viewings. Wow, so do I occasionally, if the property suits it,
What next "Connells use computers". Who cares!!
Although, thinking about it I dont know if they do??
Yes but WHEN was the LAST time YOU had AN ARTICLE in pound shop WEEKLY?!!! :-)
You can literally smell the desperation on here today. EA's must be feeling the pressure.
What I like about open house weekend, reduced price for this weekend only etc etc, is when not a single soul ventures into the property. What a slap in the face. Then you look on property bee a few months later and they're still sitting there stewing with the price well below the "special" (fantasy?) price. Only a complete clown would market in this manner. Even pound shops have the class not to try this kind of gimmick.
Hampshire EA: So - WHAT marketing initiative - whether "reeking of desperation" or not - have YOU had published recently on EAT?
OOH! Did I just type that...?
Jobsworth: " What kind of a b*** **d would get into a bidding war in this market.... Price it right and it'll sell."
And MIGHT, in the process, attract multiple offers...
Ding dong. The end.
@Jobsworth
Nobody must criticise the open house weekend. It's not allowed. Even though I agree that it reeks of desperation. Ooh, did I say that? Sorry mods.
Raymondo
Eh? This is getting surreal. Do you and AceofSpades work for Mr Andrews or something?
@ Jobsworth
Price it right for whom - you?
(No messing around neccessary).
Aceof Spades
Wow. Who shook your tree? What are you talking about?
I was commenting on the article and the fact that open days and other sales tactics smack of desperation and the best method is to price it right. No messing around neccessary. A fair point I think.
"Is this the best you've got? "
Don't be ridiculous.
This article is specifically written about OPEN DAYS. These chaps have given their opinions on OPEN DAYS, as triggered by the article that YOU have personally CHOSEN to read.
It is one of many things that agents have 'got'.
News flash:
Nobody owes you anything. Property is selling. Not to historic voulmes but we are currently crawling out of a recession - so it's not doing half bad considering.
I really hope you don't conduct yourself in real life, as you have done on this post. I guess it's quite easy to be rude and obnoxious when you are posting anonymously....nice sense of 'power' or something.
Open day blah one off reduction blah blah arranging block viewings to encourage a feeling of competition blah blah blah. Is this the best you've got? Such obvious desperation. What kind of a bell end would get into a bidding war in this market.
News flash:
Price it right and it'll sell.
Hi James
Not sure how North I am classed as but I am North West, Stockport area.....everyone loves a cheeky northerner!
Give it ago....they may be glad of the company on that lonely day.
You are right on how to do an open day however...personally I think open days are for new properties coming to the market....dont let ANYONE view prior to the launch date, with the right price and enough pent up interest and about a 3 to 4 hour slot no more!.....you could have a first day bidding war.....the challange is not to let people in before the open day! and pick the right date/day and time slot for the opening.
For me it meant to be about buyers bumping into buyers and getting all excited about almost winning the property!
Ric
Whilst I don't disagree with your amusing sentiment
If you tried that in the north you would get a fat lip from the client :-)
I do a lot of open days and they are a real success, but, and here is the point
Andrews are doing this all wrong - there is a right way and a wrong way
One of my competitors plays at this and creates a lot of unhappy clients
Ric, what a fantastic idea, I have never thought of that!
TOTALLY agree Interesting!
Always makes for the perfect phone call a day or so after the open day to see how they went on.
Perhaps though, more agents should turn up to the open day themselves to introduce themselves and see how they are going on....because I am pretty sure the corporates etc will not have a staff member present which they should if they are doing it properly.
Imagine how impressed the vendor would be! You more interested than their own agent, who didnt even bother to turn up or call midway through the day to see how things are going.
Thinking about it, I would take a camera also, the house is probably prepared and staged ready for you to work your magic!
Open days in my experience watching my Corporate opposition do this, are always a resounding failure, and kind of says desperation especially if no buyers visit the property, all it does is make vendors see that no one is interested and makes them withdraw and change agents! They really may as well nail a white surrender flag on the property. I actually like it when agents do this as it usually provides RICH PICKINGS :-)