Coquitlam open house strategy — for both buyers and sellers.

For buyers — Pros

Tour without an appointment. See the property in real conditions (other people in the home). Compare neighbourhood inventory in one afternoon. Low-pressure interaction with the listing agent.

For buyers — Cons

Listing agent works for the seller, not you. Information given may be selective. You may face other buyers also looking at the property.

Buyer tip 1

Bring a checklist. Compare each home on the same criteria — windows, condition, lot, etc. Memory fades fast after 5+ tours.

Buyer tip 2

Don't overshare your enthusiasm. Listing agent will report your interest level back to seller. Stay neutral until you've made your decision.

Buyer tip 3

Ask specific questions: how many showings this week, any offers, why are they selling, what's their timeline. Listing agent may or may not answer.

Buyer tip 4

Don't sign in if you're already represented. Tell the agent: 'I'm working with [Craig Johnston / your REALTOR®].' Avoid being pulled into a representation conversation.

For sellers — Pros

Generates broader awareness. Some serious buyers prefer to discover via open house. Some neighbours attend (potential listing leads for the agent, but also genuine interest).

For sellers — Cons

Open houses by themselves rarely sell homes. Most Coquitlam sales come from MLS searches and private showings, not open houses. Open house attendance is often just-curious traffic.

Seller strategy

Use open house in first 7-14 days of listing while interest is highest. Don't run open houses on a stale listing — it signals desperation.