Unlike in Brazil, where security concerns make the practice rare, the open house — opening the house for public visits, usually on weekends — is a standard selling tool in the United States, according to the agents in the episode.

Why it works

The comparison used by the agents is direct: builders that sell millions of houses a year allow free walk-in visits every day — if that strategy works for them, it can also work for the individual seller. According to the agents, many buyers prefer to visit without an agent constantly by their side, feeling more comfortable evaluating the space at their own pace.

When it's not recommended

The rule changes for higher-value properties or historic homes: in the episode, they cite the example of a historic house in Santa Clarita where visits are only allowed with both the seller's and the buyer's agents present at the same time — never open to the public. In very large houses, the agents recommend having two professionals present during the open house, one on each floor, for security and to protect the owner's assets.

Not every seller is on board

Even while recognizing the value of the practice, the agents stress that the final decision always belongs to the owner — some prefer to never do an open house, and that preference needs to be respected.

The line strategy

One effect mentioned in the episode: houses listed at a more attractive price tend to draw longer lines of visitors at the open house — which psychologically reinforces outsiders' interest as they watch the activity. During the pandemic, this phenomenon led to lines of 15 to 20 families waiting to enter, one at a time. A more controlled version of this behavior still happens today, with agents strategically using lower entry prices to generate visitation volume and, with it, competition for offers.

Sources and verification

• Explanation of the open house practice, security exceptions and pricing strategy by the agents in the episode.
• Transcript of episode 5 of the Cadê Moradia podcast (March 2026).

This topic comes from the full episode — watch it:

CADÊ BRAZIL