Open houses are of limited use

Regarding “Let Listing Expire; Find a New Agent” by Robert J. Bruss, Aug. 24: There is a very slim chance of selling a home through an open house. They are popular due to sellers’ perceptions rather than practical marketing.

I have been gathering data on sales for 25 years. In our office, which has about 40 real estate agents and 400 to 500 transactions a year, open houses result in only 1% to 2% of all sales.

An open house is a useless output of energy, with a very low margin of sale. Using a sign, advertising and marketing through the MLS are more effective.

Heeyoung Kim

Riverside