There are varying thoughts on the importance of holding an open house - some say that they are a waste of time because they never lead to sales and then there are those who think an open house is an essential step in marketing the property.

Here are some truths about open houses so that you can make up your own mind about their value:

There are 2 basic types of open houses - Broker opens and public open houses. Broker open houses are hosted by the listing agent for real estate brokers and agents in town, typically on the day of the week when brokers usually tour the neighborhood. They are usually scheduled soon after your home goes on the market, before any public open house. Broker opens provide an excellent opportunity to showcase your home to a large number of brokers who are searching for their clients - with over 80% of qualified buyers working with an agent, it's very beneficial to hold a Broker open.

Public open houses are the traditional Sunday afternoon events where buyers, neighbors and nosy Nellies alike can tour your home. With everyone so busy in their lives today, public open houses offer the convenience of viewing multiple houses in an afternoon rather than making individual appointments to see several properties in a day.

Homes are rarely sold at the open house, but there are instances where the buyer is someone who found the property through an open house. Does that mean they're not worth the effort? It all leads back to the whole 'what if' factor - it only takes one buyer to fall in love with your home and what if that just-right buyer was perusing the open house scene? You could miss out on the opportunity to find your home's ultimate buyer.

Scheduling an open house sets a deadline for getting your home ready to show, which will force you to de-clutter, clean from top to bottom, remove any odors and put everything in its right place! Once you've completed the initial home prep, you've only got to worry about upkeep thereon after.

The decision to hold an open house is ultimately up to you and your agent, but most signs point to it being time well-spent.

Click here to view our latest open houses.

This Sunday, January 12th, 2014 from 1:00-3:00pm, Geri Reilly Real Estate is hosting an Open House at 221 Braeburn Street in South Burlington Vermont. Stop by to say "hi" and take a look around!

We look forward to seeing you there!

221 Braeburn Street, South Burlington VT

Picture Perfect

A perfect home for entertaining, this 3 BR/2.5 BA carriage home has beautiful hardwood and tile flooring, 9' ceilings on the 1^st floor, spacious living room with gas fireplace, gourmet kitchen with granite counters, private master suite and sunny back deck.

MLS#4329052/ $429,900

Not quite sure what to do with that tiny guest bedroom? Or do you have a room in your house that's only used for special occasions, like a formal dining or living room? Why not turn these rooms into usable, livable spaces that are more practical for your everyday life? Here are some ideas on how to re-purpose your underused spaces at home:

• Formal Dining Room to Office: If you only use the dining room for special occasions/holidays, you're not making the most of this space. This would be an ideal spot for a home office and one central place to house all of your office supplies, files, paperwork, etc. Bring in a desk, seating and lighting and you have the perfect room to suit all of your work and study needs.
• Small Bedroom to Closet: If you have a bedroom that is too tiny to really be used for guests, turn it into a fantastic walk-in closet. Hire a closet organizing company or install shelving, drawers, rods and shoe racks yourself to create your dream closet. If the room shares a wall with the master, open up the wall between and insert closet doors.
• Formal Living Room to Library: Books take up a ton of space and can make rooms look cluttered, a formal living room that is not being used will make the perfect home for all your reading materials. Line the room with bookshelves, bring in some comfortable seating and make sure there is plenty of light to read.
• Under-Stairs Space to Storage: Maybe you don't have an entire room that is not useful, but what about that space under the stairs? Everyone can always use more storage! Create your own custom built-in storage cabinets or cubbies to fit the space. This could also make a great area for a built-in desk. Check out some great design ideas on Houzz.

Say goodbye to wasted space and hello to functional square footage!