Game Day: How to Throw an Open House During Peak TV Hours

Don’t. People are going to be glued to their sets, or installing HDTVs, watching Romanians yell at teenagers or whatever. I’m not really into sports. But I did see a number of open houses during football season when we shopped for our house. We were often the only ones out on game days. The conventional wisdom that Sunday is a better open house day than Saturday goes out the window when men in helmets go chasing after balls. But with 24-7 feeds of the Olympics…good luck, sellers.

I did notice, however, that when agents made a house into a sort-of-party, the place generally felt — well, like home. The sellers turned on the plasma screen, and put out a little party food, and people spent time in the space. It became warm and friendly. This kind of touch is part of what sold a really nice, but incredibly small, “condo alternative” in my neighborhood. I think the agent used a bag of chips, a Trader Joe’s salsa tub, and a couple of bits of Patriots kitsch, and the house seemed like a place where your friends would gather. I’m a nerd from Pennsylvania, and even I liked the atmosphere this created.

Anyway, here are some sellers and sellers’ agents who are braving the Olympics Week couch gravity; give them some love, and go get some personal attention.

21 Proctor Street
Salem, MA 01970
Beds: 5/Baths: 3
SQ.FT.: 2300
$ 349,900
Open House: Sunday, August 10, 2008 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
23 Station Road
Salem, MA 01970
Beds: 2/Baths: 1
SQ.FT.:842
$259,021
Open House: Sunday, August 10, 2008 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

24 Davis Terrace
Salem, MA 01970
Beds: 4/Baths: 2
SQ.FT.:1728
$334,900
Open House: Saturday, August 9, 2008 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Boston Sweet Digs Home

New In Salem In Early August