July 13, 2011 -- Washington -- Public policies currently under consideration could dramatically change the nature of home ownership in this country. Realtors® and invited local officials will share their insights and help Atlanta residents take action at the National Association of Realtors® Home Ownership Matters Bus Tour at Atlantic Station on July 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Members of the public are invited to share and discuss their home ownership experiences and related issues, and can learn about how potential public policy changes may affect their families and communities.  

NAR 2011 President Ron Phipps will be available for media interviews during the event. In addition to enjoying food and entertainment, members of the public can also register to win prizes at the event. Ongoing news and information about the tour are posted at www.houselogic.com/bus.

This weekend was national open house weekend. I had the opportunity to see an open house go wrong in a million dollar neighborhood, so I'm going to share some pointers to help your open house go smoothly.

1. Ensure that there are no malfunctions with the home. A defective air conditioner ruins the experience for everyone including the agent. You do not want the agent to be in a bad mood!

2. Have an agent who will not push prizes, giveaways, or follow prospective buyers as they look at the house. The idea is to make everyone comfortable and the way to do that is by making all information readilly available and be available to answer questions.

3. Have drinks and/or snacks on hand, especially on a hot afternoon. At a minimum, bottles icewater and soda is a must.