Lately, I’ve noticed a pattern with my newer listings that feels very different from what we saw even a year or two ago.

Traditionally, once a home hit the market, showings would start immediately. Buyers moved quickly, private tours filled the schedule, and strong activity often happened within the first few days.

Now, I’m seeing something different.

The initial showing activity is starting slower.

That does not necessarily mean buyers are less interested. In many cases, it means buyers are more cautious, more selective, and honestly, more overwhelmed. They are sorting through endless online listings, comparing homes constantly, and trying to determine what truly fits their lifestyle, budget, and long-term goals before committing to private showings.

Because of that shift, I’ve started leaning more heavily into open houses on my listings, not just as a marketing tool, but as part of a broader strategy to create exposure and opportunity for my sellers.

Open houses have always carried mixed opinions within the industry. Some agents see them primarily as a way to generate business. But in today’s market, I believe they serve a much bigger purpose.

They create accessibility.

They give buyers who may have been casually searching online for months an opportunity to finally walk through a home in person without the pressure of coordinating a private appointment right away. They also create flexibility for buyers whose agents may be unavailable that weekend or for buyers who are still early in the decision-making process.

But here’s what I believe buyers need to understand:

An open house should not replace touring homes with your agent.

One of the biggest shifts I’ve noticed since the 2024 buyer agency agreement changes is that some buyers are spending more time navigating the process on their own before fully committing to an agent relationship. At the same time, some agents seem to be relying more heavily on open houses instead of actively guiding buyers through homes and helping them narrow their focus.

And that matters.

Because a good agent is not just opening doors.

A good agent is helping you identify patterns, evaluate value, understand the market, avoid emotional decisions, and determine whether a home truly aligns with your goals. Beautiful photos online can attract attention, but they cannot tell you whether a layout functions for your lifestyle, whether a location fits your future plans, or whether a home is priced strategically within the current market.

That level of guidance only happens through experience, conversations, and walking homes together over time.

What I think we are seeing right now is a transition period in real estate.

Buyers are adjusting.
Agents are adjusting.
And the strategies that worked during the fast-paced frenzy of previous years are evolving again.

For me, open houses are no longer just a checkbox item or a lead-generation event.

They are part of a larger strategy to meet today’s buyers where they are while still creating maximum exposure for my sellers.

Because in a market with more choices, more information, and more uncertainty, buyers do not simply need more doors opened.

They need better guidance.

And sellers need agents who understand how today’s buyers actually behave, not how they behaved three years ago.