On-Line or Open House ?

Todays buyers search for homes in many ways. Internet searches and open houses are a two very different approaches, but are they effective? Do buyers find what they need? Do homes actually sell using these methods? Most buyers will shop for property on-line before venturing out into the real world. The price of gas, the lack of time, the abundance of information, and the fact that today's families spend less time together than ever before tell us that on-line searching is key in todays ever changing marketplace.
Anyone who has spent a Sunday sitting on an open house recently knows that the traffic is generally curious neighbors, although every neighbor claims to have a friend or relative moving here soon. Open house also provides an opportunity for Realtors to establish new relationships, but is it an effective way to get a house sold? Although, I believe that every marketing approach available should be utilized in some form it is important to note that the lions share of any marketing budget today be spent where most of the buying population begin their search. That is on-line from there home or office where they can safely gather as much information as they need before they physically spend time looking at properties.
One of our recent sales contracts came from an email flyer we sent to our database announcing an open house. The eventual buyer arrived at the open house after touring the home on-line. One week later we received an email reply to our email flyer asking us to schedule an appointment for them to make an offer on the home. The deal was signed in a day with a very happy qualified buyer and seller. Was it sold because we had an open house or because we spent time e-marketing the property?
Without our e-marketing approach, that open house never stood a chance.