Open Houses Still Work. Especially for Condos.

There’s a reason open houses haven’t gone away, even with everything online now. In Ottawa, where inventory is growing and condo units are staying on the market longer, open houses still play a real role in getting a place sold.

No, most buyers don’t first find listings at open houses. That happens online through MLS, Realtor.ca, and social media (that said, the humble flyer still gets results and, honestly, I think it’s an underrated marketing tool even today). But once buyers spot a property they like, they start looking for chances to see it in person. That’s where the open house comes in.

An open house creates a moment. It puts your listing on people’s weekend radar. It gives buyers a deadline. And it makes it easier for curious folks, especially first-time buyers or people who aren't yet working with an agent, to walk in, take a look, and start imagining what it’d be like to live there.

For condo apartments, this matters even more. Right now in Ottawa, detached homes are still moving fairly well, but condos are sitting. Days on market are higher, prices are more sensitive, and there’s usually competition from other units in the same building. In that kind of environment, anything that gives your unit an edge is worth doing.

Photos rarely show what makes one condo feel better than another. The corner light, the quiet view, the layout that just flows better. Those things are hard to capture until people are standing in the space. A well-staged, well-timed open house gives them that chance. It also sends a signal that your listing is active, cared for, and ready to sell.

There’s another angle too. At a time when more listings are being cancelled and relisted, and more sellers are adjusting their prices after a few weeks on the market, open houses give your agent a chance to gather real feedback early. That info helps you make sharper decisions before the listing goes stale.

Some agents will say open houses are mostly for their own marketing. And sometimes that’s true. But in this market, especially with condos, they also help sellers. You might not get your buyer through the door that day, but you’ll boost visibility, get people talking, and spark the kind of momentum that leads to private showings and offers.

So if the goal is to stand out, get seen, and sell faster, yes, do the open house. It still works.