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| LIFE IN SOLERA | JANUARY 2026 | | LIFE IN SOLERA | JANUARY 2026 | 7 REAL ESTATE REPORT OPEN HOUSES OPEN HOUSES By Diana Mangan, Realtor and Resident As your local Realtor and a resident of Solera, I'm often asked whether an open house will help a home sell faster or for more money. The honest answer — based on years of experience, market trends, and feedback from both buyers and sellers — is no. In fact, open houses have become one of the least-effective tools in our real estate toolbox, and here's why. 1. Serious Buyers Don't Shop rough Open Houses. Buyers who are truly ready to purchase a home almost always schedule private showings. They've done their research, arranged financing, and want a focused, one-on-one look at a property. Open houses, on the other hand, tend to attract casual visitors who are "just looking," not people prepared to make an offer. 2. ey're Oen Attended by Curious Neighbors. In a close- knit 55+ community like ours, a large portion of open house traffic comes from friendly neighbors who simply want to see the inside of the home. While there's nothing wrong with curiosity, it doesn't help sell the property. 3. ey Interrupt Your Routine and Comfort. Preparing your home for an open house requires deep cleaning, staging, leaving the property for several hours, and keeping everything spotless. For an event that rarely brings in qualified buyers, it's seldom worth the disruption. 4. Open Houses Offer No Real Advantage Over Online Marketing. Today's buyers rely on: - Online listings (Zillow, Realtor.com etc) - Virtual tours - Detailed photos - Social media - Real estate apps These tools reach far more serious buyers than a two-hour open house ever will — and they do it without the foot traffic or stress. 6. ey Don't Influence the Final Selling Price Statistics continue to show that open houses do not lead to higher offers. Homes sell because of pricing, condition, marketing, and exposure in the right channels. A Better, More Effective Approach. In our community, the most successful sales come from targeted marketing, strong online visibility, and scheduled private showings that attract real, qualified buyers. This approach respects your time, maintains your privacy, and brings far better results than hosting an open house. As your community Realtor, my goal is to use what actually works — not outdated traditions that drain time and energy without delivering results.