Real estate: Ins and outs of open houses

The traditional sales tool has lost much of its effectiveness with the growth of the Internet, real estate agents say. Virtual tours and other information online have replaced the need to drive around a targeted neighborhood, looking for open house signs.

And yet, there's still a place for the Sunday afternoon staple of home shopping.

"The more exposure we can get the house we're trying to sell, the better," said Frank Schrader, broker-owner of Real Estate Direct, with locations in Melbourne and Cocoa Village.

Still, agents concede, homes rarely sell at open houses. Instead, one of the prime motivations for an agent to hold one is to get leads on potential buyers who aren't yet working with a real estate agent.

Realtor Sharon Levine likes to hold open houses for properties on the beach, or in neighborhoods where homes are close together, for the maximum number of visitors. continue reading. . .