Thanks for your replies...
I agree there may be other factors for slow house sales than just the gates being closed. For one, a lot of houses in the neighborhood have been for sale through the winter, which is traditionally not the season for buyers. I'm sure the economy has a little to do with it as well, and a ''gated community'' may not be attractive to all buyers...but on the good side, business IS picking up. We've had lots of exclusive showings in the last several weeks compared to almost none the first month our house was on the market.
To clarify, my husband and I hold our own open houses and are present when people come through. I prefer it that way. Our realtor balks at the idea of holding our house open ''because ''they won't open the gates.'' We don't have a problem with the gates being closed...we moved into a gated community so I don't expect them to remain open just because our house is for sale. We've had a successful flow of traffic at our open houses so the gate is really not a deterrent.
I agree there may be other factors for slow house sales than just the gates being closed. For one, a lot of houses in the neighborhood have been for sale through the winter, which is traditionally not the season for buyers. I'm sure the economy has a little to do with it as well, and a ''gated community'' may not be attractive to all buyers...but on the good side, business IS picking up. We've had lots of exclusive showings in the last several weeks compared to almost none the first month our house was on the market.
To clarify, my husband and I hold our own open houses and are present when people come through. I prefer it that way. Our realtor balks at the idea of holding our house open ''because ''they won't open the gates.'' We don't have a problem with the gates being closed...we moved into a gated community so I don't expect them to remain open just because our house is for sale. We've had a successful flow of traffic at our open houses so the gate is really not a deterrent.