Some people who are selling their property don’t love the idea of allowing their broker to host an open house. The notion of random, unaccompanied strangers walking through your home can be unsettling. And we often hear the argument that many people who attend open houses aren’t serious buyers, or are simply nosy neighbours who might just be curious to see how your property compares to their own, especially if they’re also thinking of selling in the near future. 

We’d like to let you in on a little secret. After years of hosting open houses for countless sellers, we’ve come to realize that those “nosy neighbours” are sometimes your greatest asset and strongest allies! Although not all your neighbours are necessarily your closest friends, they certainly have a vested interest in the sale of your property. There’s a reason why they live on your street. They obviously appreciate the area and are attracted to what the community has to offer. Most of them will continue to live there long after you’re gone, and therefore whoever moves into your house is quite likely important to them. 

Many neighbours are so passionate about their street and their location that they become advocates for selling your home. These are the people who will share your listing with their friends, relatives, and co-workers, with hopes that they can attract the “right” people to become their new neighbours. Voila! “Sam and Heather” next door could be the ones attracting the best potential buyers to your property.

However, we’ve noticed that as enthusiastic as neighbours like “Sam and Heather” might be, they are often shy and maybe even uncomfortable about visiting your open house. They are sometimes reluctant to admit that they live next door, or they even ask us not to tell the sellers that they came.


We decided this was a shame, and we thought of a way that we could demystify the stigma associated with being a “nosy neighbour” at an open house. 

Team Broady now routinely encourages our sellers to proactively invite their neighbours to an exclusive “neighbours only” open house, which we host. We hand-deliver invitations to the immediate neighbours and ask them to join us for a sneak-preview of the home, where we serve snacks and refreshments.


Whenever we’ve done this, the reactions from the neighbours have been overwhelmingly positive. Not only do they graciously accept the invitation, but during their visit they often end up reminiscing about how the home used to look, how they’re going to miss their neighbours, or how their kids used to all play together in the backyards or the pool. 

After these exclusive open houses, when we’re asked by potential buyers, “So how are the neighbours?,” we can answer honestly and knowledgeably that they’re all amazing.

At TEAM BROADY, we know how to engage with your community. If you or someone you know wants to enjoy our wealth of experience in buying and selling properties, please contact us today. We can be reached at 514-613-2988 or by email at info@teambroady.ca