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John Marshall - FORE!, Specializing in Golf Course Properties (LoKation Real Estate)

Answers

Rainmaker
5,277,454
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Yes many times when we were in a buyers market.  Sandwiches, BBQ, pasta, you name it we served it. 

Apr 12, 2016 10:08 PM
Rainmaker
1,027,657
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

In our market, broker's opens are "ranked" by who is doing the food.  There is one caterer who was popular (she has since passed away), that agents scanned the BRO sheets to see who was using her and went there first, before the "good" food got away.  One could argue the point of a BRO should be to see the house, but we all know the food can be a highly persuasive factor.

Yes, I have used the same caterer for higher end listings.  ;-)  For other listings, I usually do a large caesar salad and finger sandwiches (always with a variety of mini desserts).  There is a value in networking with area agents aside from getting them in the door for a BRO and if I spend a little money feeding them, I'm fine with that. 

 

Apr 12, 2016 11:11 PM
Rainmaker
2,236,055
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

I have and yes, I put out a spread or food and drinks. 

Apr 12, 2016 11:02 PM
Rainmaker
5,586,310
Barbara Todaro
Retired...Mentoring Newbies - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

yes, if you want a good showing of brokers....feed them and they will come!!

Apr 12, 2016 10:46 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Yes I do hold brokers opens.

My broker or title company pays the bill.

I choose Tabbouleh and chicken salad, water, bread. You would be surprised how many agents pull me aside to express appreciation of the meatless option.

However, I would advise knowing the purpose of your brokers open. You have the choice of making it a Penara Bread alternative or something beneficial to your business. Feeding other agents is not beneficial to your business.

Apr 12, 2016 09:49 PM
Rainmaker
4,323,300
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

John Marshall - FORE! - yes, I did!

And so far - no sale from that - yet!

Good idea to spread the word for food and drink - that helps some additional traffic.

Apr 13, 2016 03:56 PM
Ambassador
3,238,707
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

No eating and/or drinking in my listing.  I give a bottle of water and a to go snack.  Leave before you eat.

Apr 13, 2016 02:57 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,579
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

No I have not and I have only been to 2 and it was really a waste of time

Apr 13, 2016 11:49 AM
Rainmaker
1,772,023
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Years ago I did offer food but no longer.

I am in this business to sell property period. I have seen agents compare what houses had food and even mentioned to others at different brokers opens in passing what is offered at 123 Main st etc. It reminded me of Halloween as a kid.

If you want to play around then play. I am into learning the pricing and finding homes I can sell on Brokers opens, not stuffing my face.

Apr 13, 2016 11:48 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,194
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Yes I have done these several times before. I did serve food but coordinated with a couple of other agents having open houses at same time. I am no longer doing broker open houses. 

Apr 13, 2016 11:43 AM
Rainer
80,758
Linda Guess
Keller Williams Tri-Lakes Branson, MO - Branson, MO
Branson area real estate sales.

My husband is quite a cook.  He made delicious chicken salad sandwiches with grapes and walnuts in the salad.  We had drinks and chips.  Broker open houses are very common here. 

Apr 13, 2016 10:08 AM
Ambassador
3,387,558
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Yes, but only about three in my eleven years in real estate.  And no one comes if you don't serve food.

Apr 13, 2016 07:51 AM
Rainmaker
1,153,799
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Ours would formerly be along the lines of wine & cheese although only for select homes. You know that associates plan their day around Broker's Opens to maximize the free food intake and the house is a secondary attraction at best for many. I'm guilty also, especially when builders and developers were getting back into the market. Yum, yum eat 'em up!

Apr 13, 2016 07:22 AM
Rainmaker
1,562,160
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

I've held two.  One was a vacant house.  I put out cheese, crackers and a watermelon cooler (Trader Joe's) as it was summer.  The second one was full of expensive staging furniture, so no food was served.

Apr 13, 2016 05:49 AM
Rainer
321,664
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

Wine and cheese with crackers or fruit tray.  Most of the time they offer small sandwiches, bag of chips and cookies.  If you can get a couple of other Realtors in your area to do the same it may bring out more agents. 

Apr 13, 2016 05:30 AM
Ambassador
3,479,106
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

No, I have never done a broker open and I don't attend them. 

Apr 13, 2016 12:59 AM
Ambassador
5,261,968
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Yes. Most of the time no food but sometimes small sandwiches and waters/sodas

Apr 13, 2016 12:15 AM
Rainmaker
8,387,638
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I like the chocolate chip cookies provided by some of the agents in our area.

Apr 12, 2016 11:06 PM
Rainmaker
3,075,567
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Coldwell Banker Realty

No therefore No

Apr 12, 2016 11:01 PM
Rainmaker
1,209,371
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

I haven't held any, but I attended two back in the day.  I was only there for the cheese and wine.  

In today's market I see zero value in holding one.  Most homes are selling within days.  

Apr 12, 2016 10:53 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,277
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Sandwiches and soda.

Apr 12, 2016 09:38 PM
Ambassador
6,909,039
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I have seen it done but still dont like the idea of serving food in a client's home.

Aug 05, 2017 11:26 PM
Ambassador
3,767,518
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Yes and yes.  Hang your pork chop in the window and they will come.  Actually, I've seen one agent do it recently in a multi-million dollar home serving very stale seasoned popcorn. 

Apr 17, 2016 05:21 AM
Rainmaker
6,161,838
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I tried, but everyone I called, they said they don't attend broker opens.

Apr 16, 2016 10:08 AM
Rainmaker
752,932
Sharon Kowitz
CRS-SRES-ABR-GRI-E-Pro-CREN ~ COMPASS RE - Cary, NC
Cary, NC Relocation Specialist ~ Buying or Selling

Yes, I had it catered. It was a high end home and we had a great turn out! Plus it sold the next week!

Apr 14, 2016 01:49 PM
Rainmaker
5,533,202
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Yes, I did and the last one was at least 12 years ago... don't remember what I served, but they don't get a big draw in my market.

Apr 13, 2016 09:25 PM
Rainmaker
2,235,021
Debbie Laity
CinaJones Real Estate - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County

I think the food attracts the brokers. 

Apr 13, 2016 01:01 PM
Ambassador
2,738,219
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

    Long ago.   I used a good local restaurant to cater the food.  That brings in the brokers and agents!

Apr 13, 2016 12:39 PM
Rainmaker
1,683,918
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

wine and chocolate fondue, (kitchen area only)

Chili and bottled water

Apr 13, 2016 12:06 PM
Rainmaker
5,774,279
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

John,

In commercial real estate we did.  We had soft drinks and had it catered.  It was always a success and grabbing lunch was great for those on the run.  A

Apr 13, 2016 06:03 AM
Rainmaker
1,771,468
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Yes, and depending on the locaion, weather, price point; they can be very successful!

Apr 13, 2016 04:44 AM
Rainmaker
2,916,903
Richard Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Back in the day, you ordered mile long torpedoes and sandwich cut to request washed down with soda

Apr 12, 2016 11:50 PM
Rainmaker
1,279,627
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Stopped all that for saving cost..... 

Apr 12, 2016 11:46 PM
Rainmaker
846,575
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

Always put out for a brokers open

Apr 12, 2016 11:09 PM
Ambassador
2,202,295
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Yes, I participated in a progressive broker open where each house had a different course. It was "winter" and I served Chili. 

Apr 12, 2016 10:48 PM
Rainmaker
1,446,818
Joyce M. Marsh
Luxury Home Couture - Daytona Beach, FL
Joyce Marsh Homes & Design

We will do for our luxury listings. Waterfront listings might be a lunch or later in the day. We did an elegant "lunch on the veranda" and had an incredible turnout.  We are planning a few others right now. 

Apr 12, 2016 10:25 PM
Rainmaker
4,881,571
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

In our many parts of  our market Broker Open House(often called a caravan or tour) are still held.   There are some agents who provide food or drink, some catered, some food trucks -- I tend to go very simple --- bottled water.   

Apr 12, 2016 10:21 PM
Rainmaker
824,329
Susan Laxson CRS
Palm Properties - La Quinta, CA
California Real Estate Specialist

When I first started out and had my first high-priced listing, I had a very large buffet of food for the throngs that I was sure would come. Only one agent showed up, but that agent brought his buyers back and they bought the home.

Over the years I was told by office brokers that if you don't have food & drink, the agents won't show up.

Apr 12, 2016 10:09 PM
Rainmaker
3,417,775
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

The best way to attract brokers is to give away something and feed them. Not sur eit helps sell the home, but can insure a good turnout. I think it works best for new construction, not the average re-sale

Apr 12, 2016 10:02 PM
Rainmaker
890,843
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

I have not but do attend them here and there --- usually a local spread of either sandwiches or pasta & accompaniments.

Apr 12, 2016 09:55 PM
Rainmaker
1,395,083
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

We provide sandwiches, bottles of water, chips for the average home. Catered hot food for a luxury listing.

Apr 12, 2016 09:44 PM