The Open House Circus: Why Your Privacy is Worth Less Than You Think

The narrative about the quiet, discreet, off market sale is a beautiful story agents tell to make themselves feel like they are guarding the crown jewels. It sounds sophisticated. It feels exclusive. It is also, for the vast majority of sellers in The City, absolute garbage. Unless your home features a private movie theater, a regulation pickleball court, and enough security to repel a small invasion, hiding your listing from the public is just a very expensive way to ensure you get fewer offers.

The math of a record breaking sale requires eyes. It requires the stranger walking by on their way to Blue Bottle to see the sign, walk in with their dog, and realize they are suddenly willing to blow their budget because they fell in love with your crown molding. If you are not selling a compound that only appeals to a tiny sliver of the global elite, full exposure to the market is the only strategy that actually works. More eyes means more competition, and more competition means more money in your pocket when the dust finally settles on Monday night.

Is it an invasion of privacy? Absolutely. It is loud, it is inconvenient, and it is a total circus. But in a city where the bidding engine is fueled by psychological momentum, you need the crowd. You need the guy who didn't even know he was looking for a house to walk through your kitchen and decide he can't live without it. You can keep your privacy, or you can get the highest possible price for your home, but in San Francisco, you rarely get to have both.

If you have a pool and a billiard room, by all means, let's keep it private. But if you are selling a classic Victorian or a renovated condo and you want to win, you have to open the doors. We use the tech and the vetting to keep the process civilized, but we do not hide the house. We lean into the spectacle because the spectacle is what pays the bills.