It’s hard to picture a weekend without open house signs mounted on the corner. After all, they’ve become a part of our real estate culture. Every weekend it is typical to see these signs perched at intersections, beckoning visitors to take a look. But how did open houses become a part of the housing industry? Realtor.com provided some insight about why it became a common event to open our properties to the public. Whether you compare it to a test drive or trying on clothes before you buy them, the point is the same – to have an experience and see if “the shoe fits.” So please, join me on a ride down Memory Lane.
The first open houses can be traced back to the 1910s. Then they were advertised as “open for inspection” and generally they were used to showcase new construction. Home shoppers could see what builders were implementing in homes, like new technologies. In those times, it was groundbreaking to show off electric lighting. These homes were open until they sold, similar to the way new construction is sold now with a sales office open all days of the week.
Then in 1925 it was recorded that staged homes hit the scene. So then, these homes that were “open for inspection” were shown with furnishings to help entice buyers.
In the 1950s, the term “open house” took over. At that time, Sunday was the standard day to hold them. The main guess as to why that day was preferred correlates with the fact that businesses were typically closed on Sunday. Open houses didn’t have much to compete with then. We definitely don’t have that luxury today.
In 1952, one enterprising realtor in Dallas introduced an incentive that drew 30,000 people to his open house. He promoted free sodas to all visitors and promised a Cadillac to whoever bought the model home.
Since then, open houses have remained a staple in our marketplace. They aren’t just held on Sundays, though. Some are held in the evening to highlight special features of a home like a sunset view, while others are turned into an event like a cocktail party.
As times have changed, it is important for homeowners to be smart before letting strangers into their home. For instance, making sure to hide valuables and important documents is always a good idea. However, the open house truly is a marketing tool that can create added exposure for your home and let visitors answer the question, “How’s the ride?”
By Holly Schwartz
Holly Schwartz is a realtor with Villa Real Estate who lives in Eastside Costa Mesa and has been featured on HGTV’s “House Hunters.”
