Open houses rarely produce the buyer who ends up purchasing the home — most serious buyers today find listings online and schedule a private showing through their agent. But open houses still serve real purposes: generating neighborhood buzz, capturing buyers who haven't connected with an agent yet, and creating urgency in a competitive listing's first weekend on market.
What Open Houses Actually Do Well
The strongest use case is the first weekend a home hits the market, when interest is highest and an open house can generate multiple simultaneous lookers, creating the visible energy that sometimes speeds up offers. Open houses also reach buyers who are early in their search and haven't yet retained a buyer's agent — a segment that's shrinking but not gone, especially among first-time buyers still figuring out the process.
Contact an agent to schedule a private showing
Attend an open house only if timing happens to align
Average days on market in Reno: 54 days
What They Don't Do Well
Open houses attract a meaningful share of neighbors, curious lookers, and buyers who aren't seriously qualified or ready to transact. They also require a full weekend of the home being show-ready, which is a real cost in time and disruption, particularly for sellers still living in the property. If your home is in a location with low walk-by or drive-by traffic, an open house pulls almost entirely from paid marketing and MLS syndication rather than organic foot traffic — meaning the marketing that got people there would have worked just as well for a scheduled private showing.
When It's Worth Doing
- The first weekend on market, to build early momentum and multiple-offer potential
- Homes in walkable, visible neighborhoods with natural foot traffic
- Price points that appeal to first-time buyers, who are more likely to still be open-house shopping
- When your agent can use it to gather direct buyer feedback on price and condition
When to Skip It
- Homes still occupied, where preparing for a public open house is a significant burden
- Higher-end listings, where buyers are almost always agent-represented and schedule private showings
- Homes in gated or low-traffic neighborhoods with limited walk-in potential
- Situations where security or privacy concerns outweigh the exposure benefit
The Real Decision
An open house is one tool in a broader marketing plan, not a replacement for professional photography, MLS syndication, and targeted online advertising — which is where most buyers actually originate today. For sellers in Somersett or Mira Loma, a well-marketed listing with strong photos and correct pricing typically generates showings and offers with or without a public open house; the open house is a supplement, not a substitute.
OPL Realty builds a marketing plan for every listing — professional photography, full MLS and Zillow/Redfin syndication, and a decision on open houses based on the specific home and neighborhood — at a 1.5% listing commission, full service included.
Do an open house if your home and neighborhood favor it. Don't treat skipping one as a marketing gap — the buyers who matter most are finding your listing online regardless.