What's the best technique for selling your home?

The conventional wisdom says you bake the cookies, roll out the red carpet and have an open house. But recent surveys of real estate agents defy conventional wisdom. A 1998 nationwide poll of Realtors by the National Association of Realtors found that only 7 percent of all home sales were through traditional open houses.

“Holding an open house is just one phase of your marketing strategy but not the only one,” says Richard Roll, president of American Homeowners Association

“The Multiple Listing Service, buyer referrals from real estate agents, yard signs, advertising and other techniques all contribute to a successful selling strategy.”

So is it worth having an open house at all? Yes, it's a way to build awareness among home buyers and brokers about your home. One technique is called the “targeted” open house. It's designed just for real estate agents or other invited guests only. You showcase the listing to other brokers, preferably when the house first goes on the market.

What else works?

Price your home competitively.

Decorate so your house “shows” well: consider hiring a decorator who specializes in low-cost home primping for real estate sales.

Provide comprehensive information, including as much detail as possible about your home's construction and features, and neighborhood information on schools and community services.

Highlight your home's unique features. For example, if it's energy efficient, be sure to trumpet that virtue along with the annual savings on utility bills.

For information on any aspect of buying or selling a home, go to http://www.ahahome.com, the web site for American Homeowners Association.