Open House Sign In Sheet

[@homeindurham]

Hi All,

I'm looking for a GREAT sign in sheet for my OH this weekend...one that people will actually fill out in great detail, lol 

Anyone have one to share?

Thanks in advance,
Kelly

www.kellybayne.com
www.kellybayne.blogspot.com

[Jennifer Allan]

Hi Kelly!

As you may know, I'm not a fan of sign-in sheets. There's nothing in it for the sign-in-er, except the fear that the real estate agent at the open house is going to badger them for business afterwards. Most people are pretty protective of their contact information these days - especially from us pushy real estate agent types - so until you've established a level of trust and rapport with someone, they're naturally going to resist giving you a way to contact them.

Here's a little series of blogs I did on the topic...

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1976110/open-houses-how-do-i-get-contact-information-from-visitors-

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1978047/open-houses-inspiring-visitors-to-give-you-their-information-because-they-want-to-

Anyone else?

[RealtyRon]

I noticed it with open houses I have visited. Where I personally see 10 people coming and going and one person actually signed the agent's sheet. I tried it a different way with my first open and made sure I struck up a conversation with each visitor, asking questions and wound up either asking if they had a business card (many people do) or I also carried a pocket notebook. As we talked, I asked them questions and spend most of my time listening to them and occassionally writing things down either on the back of their card or in my notebook. By the time our conversations finished, I had begun a relationship with them instead of just having them sign-in and have 6 new people on my mailing list, with their permission because they want the info I send out, and am working with two new buyers. This was my first attempt at dealing with potential clients with soul instead of just as a potential payout and it worked better than I could have imagined. Zig Ziglar was right..."people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care...about them." 

[@homeindurham]

Ah, yes...I remember reading those blog posts now....so much information to keep straight, lol!

I'm doing 2 different open houses this weekend and the one on Sunday the listing agent has requested that I do photo id and a sign in sheet, I hate the photo id part and this will be my first time asking for it...so not looking forward to that!

RealtyRon, thanks for your suggestion about the biz cards, I may try that!

[Jennifer Allan]

Oh, heavens - that sounds dreadful (sorry) - the part about asking for ID. Seriously? I might be inclined to DEcline that one. How insulting. Please let us know how that goes.

Here's the thing about sign-in sheets... by asking people to sign them (especially when you ask for a lot of information), you're "taking" without giving - and not investing any effort of your own to inspire these people to WANT to hear from you. Ron's approach is fantastic - he's WORKING hard to EARN the right to ask for contact information - a big difference!

Great discussion!

[@homeindurham]

Regarding the photo id, apparently the local police are asking brokerages to encourage this practise due thefts etc....I know that it would be a big turn off to me if I was coming to look at the house!

[Jennifer Allan]

So, what are you supposed to do with the ID? Copy down information? Or just look at it?

[@homeindurham]

They complete the signin sheet and then I check that against their photo id, that's what I'm assuming, lol!

It's not like the listing agent wants the sign in sheet in order to capture the leads....this is the 4th or 5th open house I've done for her and the 1st time that photo id has come up...

[lifefanatic]

I remember hearing from someone in SWS-land who used feedback postcards... they had the cards at the front door, with a basket, and asked people to please provide feedback, they didn't mind. I love this idea, because it gives information to the seller which can be beneficial, and you can put a spot asking if they are working with an agent, or want to be contacted.

 I've been meaning to post and ask who is doing this, and what they have on their cards? I vaguely recall also offering a $20 gift card monthly, with a draw, to encourgae people to enter. Thats pretty cheap if you do 4 -8 opens a month. Of course, fi they seleect the box saying they're workign with a realtor, or do not want to be contacted, I wouldn't contact them.

[Jennifer Allan]

I think that was Fat Head Ed (Ed Schneider) - I have his cards somewhere; I'll see if I can find them.

I'm not a big fan of the giveaway, though. Call me a purist, but I don't like the idea of bribing people for contact information... I won't fuss if you do it though - that is - I don't feel THAT strongly about it!