Why Realtors Host Open Houses in Northeast Florida

Why do Realtors really want to host open houses — and how did that change after the 2024 rule update?

Short answer:
Open houses can help with exposure, but the real reasons agents push them haven’t always been about selling your home. And after the 2024 law change, the purpose of open houses shifted again — and not everyone is using them the right way.

The Original Purpose of Open Houses (Before 2024)

Here’s the honest version most agents won’t say out loud.

For years, open houses weren’t primarily designed to sell your home.
They were designed to help the agent.

When a Realtor hosted an open house, they got to:

• put signs all over the neighborhood

• door knock and meet potential future sellers

• chat with curious neighbors

• attract buyers who didn’t have an agent yet

• grow their client pipeline for the next few months

One listing could turn into several new business opportunities.
And trust me — the industry trained agents to think this way.

Were they hoping your buyer would walk through the door? Sure.
But statistically, in most Northeast Florida neighborhoods, that wasn’t the typical outcome.

The main value of an open house was exposure… for the agent, not necessarily the home.

Then August 2024 Happened — And Everything Shifted

The law changed, and buyers now need to sign an agreement with a Realtor before touring most homes.

Suddenly, open houses became useful in a new way.

Because buyers can walk into an open house without signing anything.

Some buyers:

• aren’t ready to commit to an agent yet

• don’t love the idea of signing paperwork upfront

• want to look before they decide who to work with

• don’t understand the new rule

So the open house gives them a way to see a property that they otherwise couldn’t schedule a private showing for.

This means open houses now serve a real purpose again — but it’s different than before 2024.

So… Are Open Houses Useful? Yes — But Only When Used Strategically

Open houses are not magic, and in our market, they don’t usually produce the actual buyer for your home.

Most serious buyers:

• come with their agent

• schedule private showings

• want more than a quick look during a two-hour weekend window

But open houses can help because they:

• increase online exposure

• boost your listing on sites like Zillow and Realtor.com

• appear on open house “hot sheets”

• give access to buyers who aren’t ready to sign agreements

Think of it as a marketing tool, not a guaranteed lead generator.

When it’s part of a larger, thoughtful plan, it can make sense.

But when it’s pushed as the “big thing” that will sell your home?
That’s when you want to pause.

A Candid Word of Caution (Because You Deserve the Truth)

If an agent is promoting an open house the same way they did before the 2024 law —
meaning it sounds more about foot traffic, neighbors coming through, and “great exposure” —

…it’s fair to ask:

“Is the open house about selling my home, or is it about building your client pipeline?”

A strategic open house benefits your listing.
A self-serving one benefits the agent.

And those are two very different things.

You want someone who makes decisions based on selling your home —
not someone trying to pick up their next two clients on a Saturday afternoon.

Final Takeaway

Open houses aren’t bad.
They just aren’t a universal solution.
Used thoughtfully, they can support your overall marketing plan.
Used blindly, they become busywork disguised as strategy.

The key is making sure the open house serves your goals, not someone else’s.

Want Straightforward Advice About Selling Your Home?

Whether an open house makes sense depends on your price point, your neighborhood, and your overall selling strategy — and we’ll walk you through it honestly.

Call CrossView Realty at 904-503-0672 or email info@crossviewrealty.com.
Or simply fill out the Contact Us form — we’re here to help you sell, not just to look busy.