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Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

No. I am not hosting a party ... I am hosting an open house ... not there to feed people.  It's messy.  Kids tend to make food a free for all. A child could grab something they are allergic to and then ... well we know what comes next ... a lawsuit because I did not disclose the cookies had peanuts ... that puts me and the seller at risk.

Jul 09, 2016 01:58 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

we only provide food at Broker open house events....feed the agents and they'll come.... if they see it, they may just sell it!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Jul 09, 2016 12:27 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,381
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Want to be a food purveyor, buy a cart or a restaurant! They are there to see the property!

Jul 09, 2016 12:44 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Steve,

I agree with Barbara Todaro .  We did open house for large office spaces in our LA market and they were always catered.  Quite often, the caterer made the difference in number of agents showing up.  The most I would suggest for open houses would be sealed chilled water bottles.  I think that especially in CA where everyone has food preferences, that would be the neutral choice especially on a hot day.  A

Jul 09, 2016 12:32 AM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Steve Snyder - no! You never know who has allergy of certain type of food.

Jul 09, 2016 04:06 PM
Rainmaker
5,005,586
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

I'm so with Kathleen Daniels on this one. NO food at public open houses!

Jul 09, 2016 05:23 AM
Ambassador
3,854,886
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

As a new agent, I did. I quickly learned that I was a Realtor® not a caterer. I now do 1 hour open houses that have proved to be successful.

Jul 10, 2016 12:20 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

That can happen. We usually only offer cold water in pony bottles to avoid spills that can stain the interior floors and surfaces, I do not think anyone can expect any better unless a Broker's Open House.

Jul 09, 2016 10:42 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

We don't...hold open houses...

Jul 09, 2016 10:21 PM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

I did that once, and when one of the visitors spilled their drink (fortunately on a tile floor) I bypasses this little suggestion and never again

Jul 09, 2016 10:01 PM
Rainmaker
7,835,407
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Most do not provide food. However, I like it when freshly baked chocolate chip cookies are offered. 

Jul 09, 2016 09:58 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I always have water bottles since it is usually hot in here. Sometimes candies and cookies during holidays. 

Jul 09, 2016 05:41 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Usually, I just provide brochures.

Jul 09, 2016 03:34 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I do not provide and that way I have no accidents fo clean up or pay for

Jul 09, 2016 02:25 PM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I don't do open houses. They don't work in my area. Although I would be concerned about serving them in a home, if the prospective buyers are walking around the house with them. Messes could happen. 

Jul 09, 2016 01:27 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I used to but now it is bottled water and maybe some hard individually wrapped candies. People will take a water with them and sometimes a candy.

Jul 09, 2016 12:16 PM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Never Steve. It makes a mess and does not sell homes. I spend my time on a good presentation, great photos, marketing and being able to answer questions.

Jul 09, 2016 09:29 AM
Rainmaker
2,220,323
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

I do not 

Jul 09, 2016 06:53 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,153
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

If it is a high end listing, it is tacky. If low end, not necessary. I meet & greet

Jul 09, 2016 06:12 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

I don't because I don't want the mess.  For broker's opens it is a requirement to get people to even show up (or a raffle prize).

Jul 09, 2016 05:27 AM
Rainmaker
2,310,576
Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

Sometimes I bring small bottles of water, but not usually snacks because they end up making a mess in the house and keep the buyers from focusing on looking at the home.  Notepads go over well with all of my info printed on them.

Jul 09, 2016 05:10 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I will offer water at most of my open houses.  Not much else.

Jul 09, 2016 03:47 AM
Rainmaker
856,010
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227

McMuffins apparently were not the best choice for finger foods.    Make it a great weekend.  Mark

Jul 09, 2016 03:16 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,117
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

I typically provide bottled water.  There are agents who provide a catered meal and those who don't even turn on the lights during an open house event plus everything in between.  

 

Jul 09, 2016 02:08 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,033
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Million Dollar,  Wine for sure.

Jul 09, 2016 02:01 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

At a public open house I do not provide food for the purpose of grazing.

There are other reasons for fresh chocolate chip cookies and apple pie.

What I do is anticipate that attendees will self-select. When that happens these attendees MUST be engaged. At that point I introduce them to the idea of the solution they indicated they needed, and sit them with a beverage, primarily to keep the from talking for the next 90 seconds.

Depending on the lifestyle being offered, it could a wine or cold water. Sorry, no coffee or sodas or tea. And definitely no vindiloo and nan.

As you might have recognized, you can not do a purposed open house alone.

Jul 09, 2016 01:13 AM
Rainmaker
1,231,853
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Broker opens:  feed 'em & they will come.  If they see it they may sell it for you.

Jul 09, 2016 12:50 AM
Rainer
231,224
Mike Rock
Complete Design - Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay Luxury New Construction...For Less

barbra has it right, brokers opens are diff, and DONT do this, dont restrict brokers from bringing buyers (yes some do that)

Jul 09, 2016 12:44 AM
Rainmaker
979,496
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Steve - I would also agree with Barbara Todaro on this one.

Jul 13, 2016 11:54 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Yes, both, but light. Water is good, especially on a hot day. I keep refreshments to cookies or candy. Tried other stuff, not worth it.

Jul 10, 2016 11:07 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Don't do open houses, but if I did I wouldn't be serving snacks. That's not the purpose.

Jul 10, 2016 06:57 AM
Rainmaker
4,160,356
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Steve, it depends on the house. Good question.

Jul 09, 2016 01:09 PM
Rainmaker
1,683,912
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Whether the take anything or not, it's the gesture that counts.  Bottled water and some cookies are nice.  They can always be used at home if nobody takes advantage of them.  Make sure you bake your favorite cookies though! 

Jul 09, 2016 12:52 PM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I only provide snacks at Broker Opens.

Jul 09, 2016 12:38 PM
Ambassador
6,393,154
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I did once, it was a distraction from what we were all there to do.

Jul 09, 2016 06:14 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

No

Jul 09, 2016 04:42 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

No.

Jul 09, 2016 03:09 AM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Cater it.

Jul 09, 2016 02:55 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,271
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

They weren't hungry? 1M is not much for your area but it might come across as tacky in mine. 

Jul 09, 2016 02:22 AM
Rainmaker
823,579
Susan Laxson CRS
Palm Properties - La Quinta, CA
Realtor in San Diego, CA & Naples, FL

In my experience and areas where I have worked, agents LOVE to go to open houses that provide refreshments and/or a catered luncheon. However, most buyers' open houses, I provide ice water and maybe cookies and that seems to suffice.

Jul 09, 2016 01:39 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,801
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

The viewers are not poor healthy and can skip freebies....

Jul 09, 2016 01:35 AM
Rainer
352,976
Teri Pacitto
Compass - Westlake Village, CA
Real Estate, Your Style...Your Home...My Specialty

I have catered Broker Opens, had coffe trucks, ice-cream trucks and even the In & Out Burger Truck... and agree that is gets the agents out there to see the home but it's unbelievable how napkins and plates and other gems end up in some very odd places...on purpose?  Sometimes as we start the cleanup thoughts go to why  they did that.  Do they do that at their own homes?  The last time I provided those warm chocolate chip cookies at an Open House those wonderful chocolate chips ended up on the beautiful new carpet.  I sell homes...I don't serve food.  Just my preference and I will leave it at that.  I will go see homes for sale and caravan and never go for the food.  I applaud those that get better results than I do on this subject.  

Jul 09, 2016 01:27 AM