How desperate are some home sellers in this time of sinking prices?

this desperate: around the country, some homeowners and their agents are now offering shoeshines, bottles of wine and other freebies to anyone who shows up to tour an open house. Used to be, such freebies would sometimes be thrown in for those who bought a home. Now, they're often offered to those who are just browsing. in some cases, the freebies also go to realtors who tour homes for sale.

What some are doing;

In Charlottesville, Va, Barbara is trying to get other realtors and potential buyers in to see her open houses. She's tempted them with live music from local artist and drawings for a gas card to pay for the cost of driving to the event. She's also offered each visitor a gallon of ice cream (The ice cream is to encourage them to drive straight home to their freezer and not visit any competitors' homes along the way). all her listing have sold.

In Tiburon's Calif, agents or even potential buyers who came to an open house received $30 bottle of chardonnay.

In this housing market, volume is really off; there's limited demand,"the freebies is really to keep the house in the top of their mind."

some others agents offering spa service coupons, and door prizes include aromatherapy candles, lotions and other spa products.

the idea for this all freebies is to get the buyers to come in and go against the competition, because of the situation of the market.