What is your interpretation of "open house"?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

Poll question: What is your interpretation of "open house"?

We interpret it as "anyone is welcome to come to our home during a specific time frame." We have just discovered that others may interpret it rather differently. I am not speaking in terms of selling or purchasing real estate.

[Droopy]

1. I've never heard of that term used in any other sense than the real estate one

But, hell, I'll have an open house later on tonight. Sounds like an excuse for a party. PM me for my phone number and directions.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

3. The end of Ramadan (Eid) is Saturday, and many people host open houses

They serve food (mostly snacks), and tell people to come during a certain time. We are invited to one, and before that we are having lunch with Mr. DTBK's cousin and family. They don't have a lot of friends, and we thought it would be nice if we could take them along. The hostess of the open house said she is "bursting at the seams" guestwise and to let her know if they would be coming. I wouldn't have asked except that it's an "open house," which to us means anyone can come. I personally don't eat that much at these things, so it's not like we'll be eating them out of house and home. We found it rather odd and off-putting.

You're right - it would be a good excuse for a party!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear DTBK...

I put the same response you did...

BUT: If the open house is for showing in a real estate sort of way, then I see it as anyone can come in.

An open house for a party is for those you have invited. They may come and go as they please, but it's just for those who are invited.

So there is a difference.

:shrug:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

4. This is all my husband's fault - let's blame him!

Actually it was my idea to ask, but he encouraged me to call because it was an open house and he thought that meant anyone could go. He's rather disgusted now and doesn't want to go. He doesn't know this lady - I met her at a party last weekend and she invited us.

The fabric of society is very complex. SIGH.

[yellowdogintexas]

5. In the party sense, the term "open House" means a come and go

party, and often the guest list may be broken down where group A is from 4 to 5:30, Group B is from 5 to 6:30 and Group C is from 6 to :7:30..as an example.

There are always people who come at the beginning and stay for the whole thing, but the idea is you may have invited 200 people but you want them spread out over the day so they are not all there at once. You have light refreshments, beverages, whatever. A good way to do payback on a long list of social/business/other obligations, or just have a lot of friends over.

A venerated elder lady in our small town hosted a Holiday Tea every Christmas Season. It was Open House, she was 'Receiving Guests" from say 3 until 6 on this particular Sunday afternoon. So you came, you ate your cookies, you drank your spiced tea or coffee, chatted up folks you hadn't seen in a long time, admired her old house full of antiques, chatted up some more people who just arrived, then you went off to do other things. Everybody was invited, everybody went, a good time was had by all.

[triguy46]

7. Yep. It implies "come and go" with a not so subtle emphasis on 'go.'

I have one every Christmas, inviting around 40 to come to our small farmhouse. We time the food to come in stages so the early birds don't clean us out. Enough wine/beer/coffee for tactful, seasonal good cheer. This also acknowledges that at that season, many have full party schedules and that you are not making them choose one set of friend over others. I think its a weiner.

[Deja Q]

6. They forget to close and lock the front door?

:hide:

[JVS]

8. It means that anyone could show up and eat your stuff.

Cool people stay the whole time and help you party down!

[DS1]

9. anyone off the street can come in and take a look

of course, actual curiosity of the house, and not your life are kind of expected. someone just giving themselves a tour is kinda weird and creepy