Kingston, Jamaica — In the fast-changing real estate world of 2025, digital marketing dominates headlines. From 3D virtual tours to AI-driven property matching, technology is reshaping how buyers discover homes. Yet, one tradition refuses to fade: the open house.
Why? Because walking through a property — breathing its air, testing the light, feeling the flow from room to room — remains irreplaceable.
This balance between digital innovation and in-person experience was made clear at The Pinnacle Open House in Montego Bay earlier this year. Over 180 people attended across two consecutive Sundays, underscoring that despite the surge in online property browsing, physical open houses still command strong attention.
At the heart of the event’s success was Dean Jones, Founder of Jamaica Homes and Realtor Associate at Coldwell Banker Jamaica Realty. His blend of digital marketing savvy and traditional event execution helped make The Pinnacle open house one of the standout real estate showcases of 2025.
Building on this momentum, Jones and Jamaica Homes have now launched a new innovation: the Open House Budget Planner — a free digital tool available at Jamaica Homes.
Why Open Houses Still Matter in 2025
In an era where buyers can browse listings from their phones, schedule video tours, and even sign contracts digitally, some wondered whether the open house would fade away. Instead, its role has evolved.
Today, open houses serve three crucial functions:
- Creating Buzz
- A well-staged event signals exclusivity and generates word-of-mouth.
- Buyers see not only the home but also the level of interest from others.
- Building Trust
- In markets where transparency is key, seeing a property firsthand builds confidence.
- Digital images can attract attention, but in-person visits seal deals.
- Networking Opportunity
- Agents, sellers, investors, and even neighbors connect at open houses.
- This can lead to new client relationships or future listings.
The Pinnacle event proved that in-person experiences paired with strong digital marketing deliver powerful results.
The Pinnacle Open House: A Case Study
Held at The Canary Tower within The Pinnacle, Montego Bay, this event was designed to showcase modern luxury condominium model units.
Key highlights:
- 180+ attendees across two Sundays.
- A mix of local buyers, overseas investors, and curious onlookers.
- Professional staging, catering, and multimedia coverage.
- Buzz that extended onto social media, reinforcing the project’s visibility.
Dean Jones played a central role in orchestrating the event, leveraging his Coldwell Banker network and Jamaica Homes’ digital reach. His ability to bridge technology with tradition demonstrated exactly why open houses are still vital in 2025.
The Hidden Costs of Open Houses
While The Pinnacle was a success, it also revealed the costly logistics behind such events.
- Catering: From water dispensers to gourmet platters.
- Printed materials: Brochures, booklets, branded stationery.
- Services: Photographers, drone operators, event staff.
- Hospitality: Plates, cups, cutlery, décor, cleaning crews.
- Venue considerations: If a property isn’t suited, rentals add costs.
- Security: Essential when high-profile guests attend.
For sellers and agents, these costs can quickly escalate. Without careful planning, what begins as a simple showing can spiral into a six-figure production (in JMD).
Enter the Open House Budget Planner
The new Open House Budget Planner was developed precisely to address this issue. Accessible for free at Jamaica Homes, it provides a structured, user-friendly way to estimate costs.
Features include:
- Guest Count Scaling: Catering adjusts automatically as attendees increase.
- Exclusivity Levels: Choose Basic, Premium, or Exclusive setups.
- Custom Catering Costs: Enter per-person figures for realistic estimates.
- Venue Flexibility: Add or remove rental expenses.
- Optional Services: Security, photography, drone coverage, and print materials.
- Instant Breakdown: A clean summary of total budget and category details.
- Copy Results: Share budgets instantly with clients, partners, or staff.
For Dean Jones, the planner is more than a tool — it’s a step toward professionalizing Jamaica’s real estate events.
“Open houses are powerful, but they must be planned carefully,” Jones explained.
“This planner gives sellers clarity, helps agents build trust, and ensures buyers experience the event at its best.”
Open Houses vs. Digital Tools
It’s not a matter of digital versus physical, but of integration.
- Digital marketing generates interest and widens reach.
- Open houses create tactile experiences that digital cannot replace.
The Pinnacle Open House succeeded because it embraced both: strong online promotion funneled hundreds of eyes toward an in-person event that ultimately drew 180 attendees.
The new planner carries that lesson forward, empowering sellers to approach open houses with transparency and confidence.
The Future of Real Estate Events in Jamaica
With the Open House Budget Planner, Jamaica Homes hopes to set a new benchmark for the Caribbean market. Planned features may include:
- Vendor directories for catering, staging, and security.
- Parish-based cost benchmarks.
- Templates for event promotion.
- Mobile dashboards for agents.
As the Jamaican real estate industry grows, combining digital efficiency with traditional hospitality will remain critical.
Conclusion
Open houses in 2025 are more than just property tours — they’re mini-events that blend marketing, hospitality, and negotiation. The Pinnacle Open House showed just how impactful they can be, drawing nearly 200 attendees and sparking widespread interest.
Behind that success was Dean Jones, whose vision for modern real estate marketing continues to shape the industry. By launching the Open House Budget Planner, Jamaica Homes is giving sellers and agents across the island the power to plan smarter and present properties with confidence.
For anyone preparing to showcase a home, one truth stands out: in the digital age, open houses still matter — but they require strategy.
👉 Try the tool today: Open House Budget Planner