Open houses have been a staple of the real estate industry for decades to boost lead generation and business opportunities, but they have changed over time. Staying ahead of new, unique open house ideas and trends maximizes your time and effort and brings more qualified leads into your sphere. Excellent open house setup ideas like having food, social media advertisem*nts, and virtual tours help increase property interest and acquire prospective buyers and future sellers. I’ve gathered 20 of the best real estate open house ideas for you to try to generate interest and leads for your properties.
1. Use an Open House Checklist
Hosting an open house is an excellent strategy to entice active buyers to view a property, but it can be challenging to organize. It entails doing many things before, during, and after open houses. This can include scheduling a date, advertising the event, obtaining lead contact details, and sending follow-up emails. To make sure you’re fully prepared and don’t miss out on any important thing, use an open house checklist.
Download our free open house checklist (Source: Fit Small Business)
To help you start, read our article , which provides a free open house checklist and a guide on hosting open houses.
2. Choose the Right Open House Time & Day
Timing is everything when it comes to showcasing property at an open house event. Although weekends are popular days for agents to host open houses, depending on the property and area, it may not always be the best day for that property. For example, family-friendly neighborhoods may have homeowners occupied with family events and obligations, making it difficult for them to attend on the weekend. Instead, have real estate open houses on weekday evenings to capture additional opportunities.
Evening city views (Source: Haute Residence)
Most open houses are offered during the day to maximize natural light. However, if a property has a beautiful city view in the evening that increases buyer interest, hosting an evening open house and marketing the city lights can get more people in the door and get you more real estate leads. Choosing the right open house time and day for a certain property is crucial to shortening the property’s time on the market.
3. Use Electronic Open House Sign-ins
Collecting open house visitor contact information is one of the best tips for open houses. Not only should you have an open house sign-in sheet for anyone who stops by, but having a digital sign-in sheet eliminates the need to decipher handwritten contact details.
Digital sign-in sheets also enable additional branding and make it easier to collect certain notes on visitors. For example, allow visitors to identify whether they are a buyer or a real estate agent—and when the buyer is looking to move. These filters come in handy during the follow-up process.
Digital marketing application (Source: Curb Hero)
Agents can utilize platforms like Curb Hero to create online sign-in sheets for open houses directly through an application. The sign-in sheets sync with customer relationship management (CRM) software for better lead collection and follow-up. Curb Hero also provides digital marketing tools for agents to create landing pages for their listings and convert social media followers to leads.
4. Highlight the Property’s Best Features
The most successful real estate agents look at the property through the eyes of the ideal buyer when coming up with open house marketing ideas. Identifying and showcasing the best features of the property will provide you with a more targeted list of open house attendees. Not only should you highlight these features during your open house tour, but you should also mention them in the online property description and throughout your marketing materials.
Backyard patio image (Source: Better Homes and Gardens)
For example, if you have a stunning backyard pool, draw additional attention to it by setting that area up with drinks, pool floaties, and nice patio pillows and furniture. If part of the home has nice hardwood flooring, let the natural wood show rather than covering it with a rug. Any feature you deem worthy of marketing should be visible and presented in the best way to garner a strong first impression from open house attendees.
Create an open house checklist when preparing the home for showings so you don’t miss key features to highlight. Don’t have an open house checklist? Download ours from the article How to Host a Real Estate Open House (+ Free Checklist).
5. Provide Food & Entertainment
One of the best ideas for open houses is to provide an incentive to attend the open house event. Adding on food and entertainment can be a motivating factor to increase attendance from interested buyers. Aside from speakers and other attendees, food is an important factor when people decide if they’re attending an event. Perhaps there is a new bakery in the neighborhood you could get catering from that would entice people to stop by for a taste while also seeing the property.
Wine and cheese broker’s open invitation (Source: Pinterest)
Fun open house ideas that include good food and entertainment are also very unexpected since most open houses are just about the property itself and lack any additional bells and whistles. Although food is a huge draw, be mindful of what you serve. You don’t want to serve anything that requires too many utensils or space to sit and eat. Additionally, be mindful of common food allergies when selecting your menu to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all your guests.
Finger foods and hors d’oeuvres served cold or at room temperature are great options to allow guests to still move through the property. You also want to keep the homeowner’s space nice and clean, so don’t serve food that may stain their furniture.
6. Offer 3D & 2D Virtual Tours
Offering 2D and 3D virtual tours is a valuable open house tip because it provides those unable to make your event in person an opportunity to see the property. It also allows prospective buyers to have an open house experience at any time convenient to them without the need to disturb property sellers and have them vacate the property.
Virtual tour example (Source: Matterport)
Agents can use 2D and 3D tours in their marketing and promotional materials to collect additional leads. Sharing snippets of the tour with prospective buyers can give them a preview of the property, therefore making in-person visitors more motivated to put in an offer. Agents can also have a registration form to collect leads for buyers who want to see the full tour.
To enhance the presentation of your listing, agents can create video marketing content with 3D tours from Matterport. Matterport’s 3D technology helps agents reach a wider audience with standout features like Mattertags, floor plans, and the ability to stage their properties virtually. It offers 360-cameras to capture a listing’s space, but agents can use their phones and Matterport’s mobile application to produce 3D models of their property.
7. Strategically Place Signage
Real estate open house signage is essential for letting people know about your listing. Agents should list open house times on third-party websites like Zillow or Trulia, but strategically placing outside signage can create more foot traffic to your open house.
Some open house tips for signage include having a prominent sign at the property and placing one on a nearby busy road with balloons to draw the attention of passing cars. This is particularly helpful if other open houses are happening in the neighborhood and they might not have seen your property online.
Open house signage example (Source: VistaPrint)
Another place to include open house signage is with nearby businesses. Many coffee shops and cafes have corkboards or public bulletins that allow you to post signage. This open house suggestion can gain local neighborhood traffic, as well as those traveling to a neighborhood they’re interested in moving to. Like the below image, the bulletin board is right near the milk at a coffee shop, so those who are topping off their coffees can stop and see your open house information.
Coffee shop bulletin board (Source: Competitive Enterprise Institute)
To print real estate open house signage, agents can use VistaPrint to print out signage quickly and professionally. Agents can select from various signage options, like yard signs, banners, posters, and flags, to appropriately market their open houses. VistaPrint provides premade templates, or you can choose to upload your own custom design. It connects agents with professional designers to help create the perfect sign design.
8. Leverage Brand Partnership for a Larger Reach
Many local or national brands have large client contact lists and strong real estate brand recognition. Partnering with brands for your open house is a creative open house idea that can draw a lot of attention to your event. The partnership is mutually beneficial because you can draw in attendees to your open house while the brand can increase its customer base.
Co-branded real estate marketing example (Source: Reaching Neighbors)
Brand partnerships can range from a beverage partner to a local florist to a mortgage professional—reducing open house expenses. In exchange for goods or services, you will usually be expected to help pitch in with marketing their brand during your outreach efforts for your open house. Adding their logo and company information to your flyers and newsletter can assist with expanding their brand recognition, but if it’s a strong brand, you can use that to your advantage to get more attendees.
9. Use Digital Marketing Advertisem*nts
With 4.9 billion social media users, open houses should be marketed online for more exposure and a more targeted reach. Social media allows agents to market their open houses to their social media followers. Agents can also create social media ads to be shown to a selected audience. For example, choose to show the sponsored ad to a targeted area or ZIP code in addition to selecting different client attributes, like those looking to move in the near future.
Open house Facebook ad (Source: Dream Weaver Agents)
If you’re thinking of where to advertise open houses, social media is one of the most affordable ways to market your listing. The power of social media lets users easily share your post with their network, creating more ad impressions for you. Some platforms, like Facebook, allow adding a registration form or “learn more” button—helping you collect prospective buyer leads or direct viewers to your website’s landing pages. Even if they don’t attend your open house, you can convert them later.
For more tools you can use to upgrade your social media game, check out 15 Social Media Tools Every Real Estate Agent Needs in 2023.
10. Invite the Neighbors
The neighbors of a property might not be the most eager potential buyers. However, it’s still an opportunity for real estate agents to develop their businesses. It’s an opportunity for you to introduce yourself and your services while showcasing the work that you put into listing a property. That way, if they list in the future, they will be inclined to contact you. Go around the neighborhood with an attractive door hanger invite to invite those closest to the property. Also, allow them to invite any interested friends, family, or colleagues.
Invite neighbors to open houses as a way to network within your community.
Another benefit of inviting the neighbors is to show them what their property could potentially be valued at. Neighbors are usually curious about what their neighbors’ homes are selling for and what the property looks like. Welcoming the neighbors to your house can encourage them to sell at the current market conditions and give you more listing opportunities in the future.
11. Collaborate With Other Agents
The real estate industry can be extremely competitive because agents are generally independent contractors working solely on commission. However, that doesn’t mean agents shouldn’t collaborate for mutually beneficial reasons. Although you probably do not want to share your listings with other agents, building relationships with buyer’s agents who have clients that might be interested in the property can be advantageous for both parties.
Collaborate with colleagues to build relationships and share listings. (Source: Forbes)
These collaborations don’t always have to exist during the open house hours the general public is invited to. Share a new listing with other agents prior to listing it on the market, also known as a broker open house. Agents can view the property without clients gathering information directly from the hosting agents. This way, agents can entice their clients to view a special listing that is not on the market. It could even eliminate your open house altogether if you get a buyer before the first open house.
12. Incentivize Open House Visitors With Prize Raffles
Doing raffles at open houses can draw in attendees interested in the prizes offered while also allowing you to collect prospective client information. Visitors may want to bypass the sign-in sheet because they don’t want to receive spam emails or follow-ups. However, if visitors want to win a prize, they will be more inclined to provide their contact details. Another open house raffle idea is to use raffle slips as a substitute for a traditional sign-in sheet.
Sample open house raffle forms (Source: Rocket Lister)
Depending on what your budget allows, try to get prizes that are substantial enough to attract attendees, like gift cards, spa services, or local sports event tickets. Aim to have multiple prizes with varying price ranges. That way, you not only have a few more winners but can also develop better relationships with the winners. Agents should make sure to include the presence of a raffle on their invites and marketing materials. Prizes that interest your contact lists will persuade guests to participate.
13. Set Up a Table That Greets Your Guests
When you’re hosting an open house, you want to create a welcoming atmosphere for your guests. Sometimes, guests may feel a bit intimidated when they enter the property, so it’s important to make them feel at ease. Do this by setting up a table with a welcome sign and business cards. This will be your guests’ first contact with you, so you must design it well. You can also add flyers with property information, a sign-in sheet, balloons or flowers, and branded promotional items with your logo on them.
Prepare a table for your guests that has business cards (Source: Lresocial)
To create your own custom welcome sign and business cards, use Canva. This robust platform features a beginner-friendly editor and provides a variety of design templates to choose from so you can effectively align your marketing materials with your brand. Try it today using its free trial.
14. Stage the Property & Add Additional Decor
Empty properties should be staged with furniture and decor to give prospective buyers an idea of how the space might look if they lived there. Eighty-one percent of buyers’ agents said home staging helps buyers visualize the property as their future home, and 27% of sellers’ agents noted it could reduce time on the market. Therefore, not only will the effort mean closing deals faster, but it can also increase your commission income significantly. Although home staging may feel like a large investment, your return on that investment will make it worth the initial expense.
Pillows on a couch to make the environment homey (Source: Adobe Stock)
For properties that currently have homeowners living in them, small additions to the property can help prepare the property for an open house. Homeowners may not have accent pillows on their couches or lamps on the side tables that are used on a daily basis. Small touches like these could pull a room together and make it present more professionally. Real estate agents could use these add-ons to their advantage, like a branded doormat containing your logo and contact information.
To get additional tips on how to stage your property listing, visit our article Home Staging in 10 Steps: The Ultimate Guide.
15. Hire a Photographer to Take Pictures of the Event
Aside from the open house event itself, it’s beneficial to hire a professional photographer to capture images of the event, attendees, and prospective buyers. These photos serve as a tool not only for documentation but also for promoting yourself as a reputable real estate agent. Remember to get permission from your sellers if you want to post them online.
Sample photo of an open house event (Source: Idealista)
Utilizing these images in your marketing materials and online platforms enhances your listing presentations, creating a dynamic showcase of your skills. The candid moments captured during open houses can provide prospective clients with a glimpse of what it’s like to work with you. This approach not only reinforces your current reputation but also fosters positive connections for future collaborations.
16. Provide Customized Promotional Items
Agents should market themselves and their brand during an open house. An easy way to do this is by having goodie bags or promotional items at the open house so people can take your contact information with them.
Branded tote bags with open house event flyers inside of them can be an excellent way to have people reach for the bags and take them home. As they use your bags for groceries or everyday activities, this helps increase your brand placement to others who see the bag. These items can also be as simple as branded pens or refrigerator magnets.
Branded tote bags (Source: AnyPromo)
AnyPromo offers promotional items with a variety of tote bags for all occasions. It’s a one-stop shop for all customized marketing products. Agents can select from over 1,500 tote bag options with a wide range of materials, quantities, and costs to fit their needs. In addition to supplying a regular cotton tote bag, agents can get creative and print beach bags, toiletry bags, or even laundry bags that might get more frequent use by your open house attendees.
17. Craft an Infographic With Localized Neighborhood Info
Prospective buyers don’t just look at the property itself. They also look at the neighborhood surrounding it. To help your potential buyers make an informed decision, create an infographic that provides them with localized information about the area. With this open house idea, you’ll show them that you’re a knowledgeable and trustworthy real estate agent.
Sample neighborhood details (Source: freepik.com)
Utilize online property databases such as Zillow or Realtor.com to access neighborhood data. Some neighborhood attributes you can consider providing on your infographic are the property’s proximity to amenities like parks and shopping centers, public transportation, green spaces, future development projects, noise levels, and pollution levels. Once you have your information, you can create your infographic using platforms like Canva.
18. Have an Automatic Shoe Cover Dispenser by the Door
Many open houses require guests to remove shoes or put on shoe covers to keep the floors clean all day. However, it’s good to consider that many people will not want to remove their shoes or have difficulty putting on shoe covers. Thus, having an automatic shoe cover dispenser prepared by the door is a great open house tip that provides them with a better service and experience, plus an added touch of sophistication.
Automatic shoe cover dispenser (Source: Adobe Stock)
All the guests have to do is step on the device, which then puts the shoe cover on for them. Then, they can proceed with the tour, making the whole process more seamless for everyone. A gesture like this shows how considerate you are and willing to accommodate a client’s needs.
19. Designate a Dedicated Kids’ Corner
Parents often face challenges focusing on an open house while simultaneously keeping an eye on their children. Designating a dedicated kids’ corner within the event space not only addresses this issue but also enhances the overall experience, creating a more relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for families.
Designate a space for children to play in (Source: Adobe Stock)
By proactively considering the needs of parents, you convey a sense of thoughtfulness that goes beyond the standard open house setup, fostering a positive impression among prospective buyers. This thoughtful touch not only improves the overall ambiance of the event but also signals to potential clients that you are a reliable and considerate real estate agent, capable of understanding and accommodating their unique requirements.
Pro tip: If you’re familiar with local babysitting services, enlist the help of a babysitter or nanny during the open house event to watch over the kid’s corner. This can not only help the parent attendees but also showcase your neighborhood knowledge and promote the services of a local business.
20. Always Follow Up With Your Open House Visitors
The key to having a successful open house is to follow up. Having a few open house follow-up email templates pre-drafted before your open house helps you send them out quickly after the event. Following up with open house attendees acknowledges their presence at the event and opens up the opportunity for conversation. You could ask for their feedback to help you determine the next marketing steps to sell the property, or you could share with them a price change that might pique their interest.
Sales pipeline management dashboard (Source: Pipedrive)
Having a customer relationship manager (CRM) connected to your digital open house sign-in sheet helps you nurture that relationship. CRMs like Pipedrive have robust email marketing tools that allow you to track email campaigns, as well as email segmentation, so that you can send the right message to the right contacts. For contacts collected at open houses, you can have a segment specifically for them, sharing listings you have available in nearby areas.
If you’re looking for free CRM options, take a look through our guide to the best 8 Free Real Estate CRM Software 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Attract people to your open house by employing a comprehensive marketing approach, utilizing online platforms, professional photography, and clear signage. Enhance curb appeal for a positive first impression, and consider offering incentives like food and refreshments. You can also host a raffle or giveaway to make the event more engaging. Providing a kids’ corner can be a thoughtful gesture that will not go unnoticed. Additionally, create virtual tours to expand your reach, ensuring a diverse audience of potential buyers for your property.
At an open house, consider serving light refreshments that are easy to handle and not too messy. Options may include a selection of finger foods, like appetizers, cheese and cracker platters, fruit skewers, and mini sandwiches. For drinks, offer a variety of beverages, such as bottled water, iced tea, or lemonade. Coffee and tea are also popular choices. Keep in mind any dietary restrictions or preferences of potential buyers, and avoid alcoholic beverages. Aim for a selection that is universally appealing and manageable in a social setting.
To elevate the fun factor at your open house, infuse a thematic touch with seasonal decor and interactive elements like a home scavenger hunt. Enhance the ambiance with light background music or live entertainment, and provide a diverse spread of appetizers and beverages. Consider incorporating technology like virtual reality or 3D tours for an immersive experience. Showcase local art or highlight innovative features like smart home technologies. These thoughtful touches contribute to a more enjoyable and memorable open house experience, increasing the likelihood of potential buyer interest.
Bottom Line
Some of the top open house tips can be executed simultaneously to create a larger impact at your open houses. These open house ideas for realtors should help you quickly receive offers on your property, increase your contact lists, and bring additional business for the future. Although open houses have been around for some time, keeping up with the latest open house ideas and trends can provide you with a lead generation strategy to grow your business over time.
