MANATEE — Local real estate agents reported mixed results from this past weekend’s countywide open-house event, but universally praised the concept Monday.
Some agents reported higher-than-normal foot traffic during the “Big Open House,” which featured more than 300 single-family homes and condominium units. Others reported lackluster, even disappointing, results during the event Saturday and Sunday.
But all said the first-ever event, sponsored by the Manatee Association of Realtors and the Bradenton Herald, is worthy of a repeat.
“It was a great idea,” said Gina Uliano, branch manager/agent of Wagner Realty’s West Manatee office in Bradenton. “They should definitely push to do it again.”
Wagner agents held more than 100 open houses, including five that Uliano and two other agents held at west Bradenton properties that listed from $139,000 to $299,000. She said the event has led to several offers and even early negotiations with potential buyers.
The only drawback was that the event was held before the winter season was fully under way, Uliano said.
“February or March would be terrific” for a follow-up, she said.
Randy Lyon of Prudential Palms Realty Lakewood Ranch agreed, saying he might have had better results had the event been held later in the season.
“For both days, we had extremely disappointing results,” said Lyon, who showed units at the Lake Vista condominium complex.
“We had less traffic than we would have had on a normal weekend. I really liked the concept, but for some reason the traffic wasn’t there. Maybe it was a bit premature.”
Other agents said open house traffic might have been dampened by competition, such as the opening weekend of Hunsader Farms’ annual pumpkin festival and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ home game.
The Realtors association said it had not yet compiled statistical data nor gotten significant feedback from agents on the event.
Duane Marsteller, transportation/growth and development reporter, can be reached at 745-7080, ext. 2630.
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