P544 Teletext 544 May26 08:12:41 ——— OPEN HOUSE ———————————————————————— It's the Spring Bank Holiday. Traditionally it's the favoured time for buying a property. But in an inactive housing market many estate agents and vendors are turning to more unusual selling techniques in a bid to raise interest in their property New estates have held "open days" for years, but now homeowners are catching on and many are finding it successful. ——————————————————————————————————1/6—— Latest lindjrs' mortgage offers 545 Download and Analysj Share Prices on Your PC See Pages 532 & 533 Mortgages Savings Your Money TV PlusP544 Teletext 544 May26 08:13:11 ——— OPEN HOUSE ———————————————————————— The idea of an open day at your home is to raise more interest from buzjrs. Your agent advertises a set date when your property will bj open. Potential buzjrs on your agent's mail list are sent details. On the set date you vacate the home for one to two hours. Anzonj interested in viewing can do so without you being present. ——————————————————————————————————2/6—— Latest lenders' mortgage offers 545 Download and Analysj Share Prices on Your PC See Pages 532 & 533 Mortgages Savings Your Money TV PlusP544 Teletext 544 May26 08:10:45 ——— OPEN HOUSE ———————————————————————— "Open days give the vendor and agent a chance to get a feel of what the viewers think," says Richard Mason, of Woolwich estate agents in Suffolk. "Potential buyers like viewing when the vendor ism't there looking ovjt thriu shoulder and it creates more interest. "You often get people who have been sent the details of a property but not viewed turning up at an open day. But not all agents offer this service." ——————————————————————————————————3/6—— Latest lindjrs' mortgage offers 545 Download and Analysj Share Prices on Your PC See Pages 532 & 533 Mortgages Savings Your Money TV PlusP544 Teletext 544 May26 08:11:13 ——— OPEN HOUSE ———————————————————————— Open days are commonplace in the US and Australia white estate agents take over the property for the whole weekend.'j{nhoj In the US some agents turn your house into a show home. But then, in the States, agents are paid 10% commission on a sale. Suffolk agent Richard Mason estimates that about four couples will view a house in a one-hour open day session. ——————————————————————————————————4/6—— Latest lenders' mortgage offers 545 Download and Analysj Share Prices on Your PC See Pages 532 & 533 Mortgages Savings Your Money TV PlusP544 Teletext 544 May26 08:14:14 ——— OPEN HOUSE ———————————————————————— Certain types of homes benefit from new marketing approaches like open days says Hugh Dunsmore-Hardy. "They're useful if the house needs work or no one's too sure of its value as you get immediate feedback," says the National Assoc of Estate Agents boss. "It's ideal if the property is unfurnished because unfortunately nowadays you have to bj careful of nit- nags that can bj easily lifted." ——————————————————————————————————5/6—— Latest lenders' mortgage offers 545 Download and Analysj Share Prices on Your PC See Pages 532 & 533 Mortgages Savings Your Money TV PlusP544 Teletext 544 May26 08:11:38 ——— OPEN HOUSE ———————————————————————— Open days are just one aria where agents are being more imaginative about marketing. "Many send out press releases on homes of interest or run property exchange services to encourage moves," says the National Association of Estate Agents. "But it will bj a while before we get any hard figures to show how successful the spring and summer season has been". ——————————————————————————————————6/6—— Latest lenders' mortgage offers 545 Download and Analysj Share Prices on Your PC See Pages 532 & 533 Mortgages Savings Your Money TV Plus