Open Houses

Quick Takeaways

Check for competing events
Partner with local businesses for cross-promotion
Be sure to follow up on leads

Source: The Ultimate List of Open House Ideas for 2024 (Market Leader, Jan. 11, 2024)

Make your open house a success! Hold your first open house the weekend after the property goes up for sale for maximum exposure. Create a flyer with important information from the homeowner, such as heating and utility costs. Don’t forget to bring three things when touring an open house. Prepare for an open house by walking the property, unlocking doors, and taking advantage of natural light.

Use a checklist for thorough preparation. Preparation is the key for a great open house experience. Clean, declutter, and depersonalize the home. Pay attention to the curb appeal, too. UpNest has great preparation tips including getting the temperature and the lighting right.

Safety is vital for everyone at the open house. Have the homeowners hide or remove pets, valuables, prescription drugs or sensitive personal information such as checkbooks. For REALTORS®, work with a buddy at your open house and check in with your office. Ask for identification, don’t give out garage or door codes and limit the number of people in the house for a safer open house. Working with a REALTOR® is the best way to avoid home buying scams.

See References for more information.

References

NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require the member's nar.realtor login.

The Value of Open Houses

The Benefits of an Open House (S.H. June, Jan. 31, 2024)

Unlike traditional viewings where individual appointments are necessary, open houses allow sellers and agents to connect with multiple buyers simultaneously. This face-to-face interaction offers unique opportunities for personalized engagement with potential buyers—answering questions in real-time and showcasing the distinctive qualities of your property.

Are Open Houses Worth It? When One Might Make Sense (Home Light, Oct. 31, 2023)

Your home stands out from other houses
You live in a high-demand, populated area
Your property has highly sought-after attributes
Your entry-level home appeals to first-time buyers

Why Open Houses are Necessary to Sell Your Home (Stephanie Young, Group, Oct. 26, 2023)

A quicker sale is frequently indicative of more people viewing your home in a short time. With an open house, you may forgo weeks of one-on-one showings and take advantage of a one-day event that maximises the audience. Pay for the housekeeper and staging only once, and get your house ready to sell as soon as possible.

What is an Open House and Can It Really Help Sell a Home? (Quicken Loans, Aug. 13, 2023)

An open house is a buyer’s first look at their potential home. Buying a home is a big decision and a large investment. Most buyers will want to view the property to get a feel for it in person before they make a decision that will have a lasting impact on their lives. An open house is a low-pressure opportunity for potential buyers to evaluate homes for sale and find their dream house.

REALTOR® Open House Events: Media Talking Points (National Association of REALTORS®)

Realtor® open house events not only bring buyers and sellers together, it is also an opportunity for Realtors® to connect with consumers in their communities about the housing issues that matter most to them.

Tips for Success

The Ultimate List of Open House Ideas for 2024 (Market Leader, Jan. 11, 2024)

Here are some outside-the-box real estate open house ideas to make it more than just that – a house that happens to be open.

Have live music playing in the living room or out in the backyard.
Make it a fundraiser for a local charity.
Showcase local artists and call it an “art exhibition.”
Feature a giveaway or raffle.
Make it a barbecue or a chili cook-off.
Combine it with a local area celebration. (E.g., the city of Springfield’s 150th anniversary.)

33 Open House Ideas That Will Actually Get You Leads (The Close, Nov. 3, 2023)

They say if you want to get a real estate agent to like you, allow them to like themselves. Hiring a photographer to take pictures of them in action at your open house is a great way to do that. What agent doesn’t want more pictures of themselves for social media? Images of people enjoying themselves at your open house will also work great in your next listing presentation.

The Ultimate Open House Checklist & Guide for Success (LabCoat Agents, Jul. 10, 2023)

Create a welcoming ambiance by playing soft background music and ensuring the space is well-lit. Arrange furniture and décor in a way that highlights the property’s best features and allows visitors to envision themselves living there.

Preparing for an Open House

How to Prepare Your Home for an Open House (Seattle Staged To Sell, Sep. 13, 2023)

While your vibrant orange accent wall might be your pride and joy, it might not resonate with everyone. Opt for neutral paint colors that provide a blank canvas for buyers. Soft, muted tones create an inviting and versatile backdrop that allows potential buyers to visualize how they could customize the space to their liking. You can always add pops of color in the accessories to add interest, yet keep the palette mainly neutral.

How to Plan an Open House That Wins Buyers Over, According to Real Estate Agents (Martha Stewart, Jun. 29, 2023)

Think you have enough signs to promote your open house? According to Harris, you can always have more. In fact, she says 10 to 12 is a good place to start—but 20 will optimize your results. If you live in a gated community or have a homeowners association to appease, make sure to ask where you can put them. Ideally, you would place signs starting a few blocks away (preferably on a main road) to guide drivers and in your yard.

10 Tips to Prepare Your Home for an Open House (realtor.com®, May 22, 2023)

Stage your dining room table for a nice meal to encourage buyers to imagine what it would be like to entertain in the house. Your best china and a new neutral tablecloth with matching napkins will help with the visualization.

Open House Safety & Security

How to Keep Your Home Safe During an Open House (Realty Times, Feb. 25, 2024)

Doing a sweep of medicine cabinets is another important step. Thieves have been known to target open houses specifically for the purpose of finding prescription drugs.

How to Avoid Getting Robbed from an Open House (Maximum Real Estate Exposure, Jan. 19, 2024)

Once you and the Realtor have arranged the house for showing, take photos of all the rooms and areas in the home so you have a reference after the visitors are gone.

This will allow you to spot any alterations or missing things quickly. If you do notice a probe, you can contact the authorities with confidence and an easy reference to show police.

Safety First: 8 Tips to Protect Yourself When Showing Your Home (realtor.com®, Nov. 2, 2021)

Don’t give any garage or door codes out for showings. “Instead, consider creating a specific code for showings instead of the one that family members use,” says Ameer. Then change the code every couple of days. If the property has an electronic lockbox, have the listing agent program it so that you receive a notification the minute the lockbox is opened. That way you’ll know when someone is about to enter your property.

4 ‘Danger Zones’ in Your Daily Work Routine (REALTOR® Magazine, Sep. 16, 2021)

The end of an open house is potentially the most dangerous time of the event. “People can hide in drapes, closets, showers,” Judd said. “Be sure to talk to someone on the phone while you are checking the house.”

Opioid Safety and Open House Practices (National Association of REALTORS®, Aug. 26, 2019)

Although we encourage homeowners to altogether remove prescription drugs from the home prior to the open house, we believe it is key for REALTORS® to communicate with their clients about ways to secure any sensitive items before prospective buyers are invited into their home.

eBooks & Other Resources

eBooks.realtor.org

The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:

Consider It Sold (eBook)

Do Your Own Home Staging (eBook)

Home Makeovers That Sell (eBook)

Home Sweet Home Staging (eBook)

Home Staging (eBook)

Home Staging That Works: Sell Your Home in Less Time for More Money (eBook)

Secrets of Home Staging (Audiobook)

Seven Steps To Sold (eBook)

The Complete Idiot's Guide Staging Your Home to Sell (eBook)

Staged to Sell (or Keep) (eBook)

Books, Videos, Research Reports & More

As a member benefit, the following resources and more are available for loan through the NAR Library. Items will be mailed directly to you or made available for pickup at the REALTOR® Building in Chicago.

Your Key to Open House Success: Advanced Strategies for Real Estate Agents of All Levels (Charleston, SC: Jands Publishing, 2015) HF 5387 En7

Home Staging: the Winning Way to Sell Your House for More Money (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2006) HF 5438 Sch9

Home Staging: Creating Buyer-Friendly Rooms to Sell Your House (Arlington, MN: Center Stage Home, 2004) HF 5438 M43

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