Creative Open House Checklist You Need
Welcome to the world of creative open houses! Whether you’re a realtor looking for new and exciting ideas or just curious about how to make an open house stand out, this article is here to help.
Open houses are a great way to showcase properties in their best light, but sometimes it can be hard to come up with something different and memorable.
By George Nicola (Expert Stager)
Table of Contents
If you have been doing the standard open house drill:
- Staging the house with focal points
- Making posts on Facebook
- Emailing contact lists and basic lead generation
- Telling fellow agents
- Getting Open House Sign and Flyers
- Sending invitations to invite neighbors via door hangers
- Collecting signatures on the sign in sheets
- Recitation of the same old open house script from last year
Definatelly you are missing a ton of real estate leads! Also, if you are missing a customer relationship manager, make sure to get one that can keep you up to date with the latest marketing trends.
That’s why we’ve put together some unique tips that will have your future sellers raving about your next open house event.
From utilizing technology like virtual reality tours and online streaming events, to creating fun experiences such as crafting activities, there are many ways to make sure your next open house generate interest.
Transform Your Open Houses with Fresh Ideas and Inspiring Designs
It does not matter if you are junior agent or veteran broker with 25 years of experience. By using these innovative strategies, you can create an experience that helps open house guests get excited about the property and imagine themselves living in it.
With these fresh approaches, you’ll be able to wow visitors while boosting interest in the home at the same time, things that no other agents does.
A top open houses event will give prospective buyers an inspiring peek into what life could look like in each property, read on!
We guarantee that by implementing at least three features from our tips, you’ll be well on your way towards hosting amazing—and truly one-of-a-kind—property showing events.
Definition Of An Open House Day
Have you ever considered creative open house ideas for your realty business?
An Open House Day is an event hosted by a realtor to attract buyers and generate leads.
It’s typically held on the premises of a property being sold, offering visitors a chance to walk through the home and view specific features that make it unique.
Estate agents can use this opportunity to showcase their listings in exciting ways, from professional tours to interactive activities or fun decorations.
Open houses are great opportunities for realtors to network with prospective clients and market their services.
But what are some additional benefits of hosting them?
Let’s explore the advantages of using creative open house ideas within the framework of a modern real estate agent business.
What are Open House Agents?
Open House Agents are estate agents who specialize in conducting open houses for prospect buyers.
These agents typically work with sellers or listing agents to host and promote home tours, as well as provide information to all attendees.
They show and provide answers to any questions during the open house altogether.
Open house realtors help facilitate the buying process and provide an opportunity for buyers to view a home they may be interested in purchasing. They can be hired by other agents, seller selling or part of the in-house team.
Benefits Of Open Houses For Real estate agent
Open houses are a great way for realtors to gain exposure and showcase their properties. They provide an opportunity for interested buyers to get a feel for the home and visualize themselves living in it.
Open house events can also be used as promotional tools, allowing realtors to build relationships with customers and network with other professionals in the real estate industry too.
The key to success when hosting open houses is having unique ideas that will draw people in.
Creative open house ideas for agents include holding special events such as wine tastings or art shows, providing discounts or giveaways, offering food or beverage samples, and renting out items such as tables and chairs.
Utilize Digital Marketing Tactics
Realtors should also consider using digital marketing tactics.
Creating virtual tours of homes online as well as utilizing social media channels to spread word about upcoming events.
All these strategies can help attract more foot traffic which increases chances of generating leads from interested buyers.
Real estate agents should take advantage of every opportunity to differentiate themselves from competitors by getting creative with their open house ideas!
With proper planning, research, and execution, they’ll be able to create memorable experiences that will leave buyers feeling impressed and excited about what awaits them at the next event.
Now let’s turn our attention towards pre-open and virtual open house preparations.
Pre-Open House Preparations
A great open house begins with proper preparation. Realtors must be proactive in their marketing strategies to ensure that interested buyers are aware of the upcoming event and excited about attending.
One way to achieve this is by creating unique open house themes, as well as advertising and marketing ideas tailored specifically for your target demographic.
Open houses should include creative decorations, food and drinks, fun activities, and a welcoming atmosphere that will draw people in from the local area.
TIP: Make sure to have contingency plans if too many people turn up. Get the square footage and calculate the possible limit that the property can handle.
Make sure to check in advance and ask attendees to sign up, so you are aware of their numbers!
Always plan an extra 20% capacity.
Unique Ideas for Making Your Next Event Memorable
When it comes to organizing an open house, creativity is key! Selecting a theme that speaks to the property’s character can make all the difference when it comes to standing out among other properties on the market.
For example, if you’re selling a beach-front home, consider hosting an ‘Under The Sea’ themed event with tropical decor, seafood appetizers, and nautical games.
If you’re going for something more modern or sophisticated than choose contemporary art pieces and sleek furniture designs to set the tone.
Create buzz around the event
Once you have settled on a theme, use online platforms such as social media networks or website banners to advertise your open house.
Create buzz around the event – including information about any special offers or promotions associated with attendance at your open house!
No matter what kind of theme you choose for your real estate open house, it is important to create an inviting environment where prospective buyers feel comfortable exploring each room while gathering important details about the property.
With careful planning ahead of time and attention to detail during setup, realtors can ensure that their next big event runs smoothly from start to finish!
Creating A Welcoming Atmosphere
Creating a welcoming atmosphere is essential for any real estate open house. Realtors can make their clients feel at home with some simple touches that will help draw house shoppers in and make them want to stay awhile.
Decorating the space with subtle, inviting accents like fresh flowers or strategically placed plants is an easy way to set the tone of a pleasant environment.
When decorating, it’s important to take into consideration how each room appears from different angles so prospective buyers get a full understanding of its potential.
Providing light free refreshments such as coffee, tea, and snacks can go a long way towards making people comfortable and willing to linger longer.
You can even ask the local coffee shops to help, in return they will get a free advertisement.
First Impressions Matter: How to Welcome Guests
In order to ensure that all open house guests will feel welcome, it’s best practice for realtors to greet everyone who enters the door warmly and introduce themselves by name.
It also helps if they provide information about specific features of the property on handouts when possible; this allows visitors to remember what appealed to them most after they leave the open house.
By taking these steps, realtors are able demonstrate that they truly care about creating an enjoyable experience while showcasing their properties’ unique attributes – which could ultimately lead to more successful sales!
As we move forward in our discussion on creative open house ideas for realtors, let’s now explore advertising strategies that may further boost visibility among interested buyers.
Advertising Strategies
Realtors have a unique opportunity to use creative open house marketing ideas to increase their visibility in the market.
According to The National Association of Realtors, 87% of home buyers search online for homes they are interested in purchasing.
This is why it’s important that realtors create an effective open house advertisement strategy and utilize available resources such as websites or social media platforms.
Open houses can be advertised through many channels including local newspapers, radio stations, television networks, magazines, local shops, social media ads and even on sites like Craigslist.
The Benefits of Creating a Dedicated Website
Real estate agents should consider creating a website specifically dedicated to showcasing their upcoming house viewing with relevant details about each one listed – this could also include photos and videos highlighting key features of each property.
A section on website can be fully dedicated to the event. Allow at least two options for people can sign in from the property’s Facebook event for a video walk via Facebook live stream or dedicated page for video walk through.
Dedicated websites focus strictly on one topic and eliminate distractions. Because they don’t use multiple templates or employ many forms, they are more engaging and memorable than a typical website. They also engage users because they are more personal. Research shows that dedicated sites are more likely to lead to conversions.
Another advantage is that content is reviewed and approved by a team so it’s more consistent, thorough, and up-to-date.
There are two main reasons to create a dedicated website:
– Personalization – A dedicated site will provide users with a place where they can interact with you and your business. Dedicated property listing sites contain a mini-blog directly targeting Q/A style what might the buyer has as questions.
It is like a brand dedicated per listing.
– Consistency – As house shoppers continue to get accustomed to online shopping, more and more of them are getting picky about where they spend money. Creating mini-website for each and every listing for your brand will not only raise awareness of the brand but also help with the sale.
Let us help with your mini-websites >
Dedicate budget for Social Media Ads
Agents may also want to take advantage of digital marketing tools such as Google AdWords , Instagram Ads and Facebook Ads. Ultimately these strategies will help capture potential buyers’ attention before they ever walk into an open house.
An effective open house advertising strategy isn’t just about getting people into your next open house; it’s about developing relationships with other professionals in the field such other agents such as buyers’ agents who you can work with directly.
Working With Buyers' Agents
Now that you’ve got your advertising strategies in place, it’s time to get creative with open house ideas for realtors.
Drawing interested buyers into the property is essential and here are a few of the best ways to keep them engaged:
- Host a themed event or contest – Consider hosting an open house theme party such as “Welcome Home!” where guests will be greeted at the door with refreshments and other giveaways. Or create a game-like atmosphere by offering prizes or discounts if they guess the correct price of the home.
- Offer food and drinks – Make sure you have plenty of snacks and beverages available during your open houses. This encourages people to stay longer, browse around, and get comfortable. Don’t forget to include some healthy options like veggies, fruit, nuts, etc., too!
- Giveaways – Everyone loves free stuff! Use this opportunity to give away promotional items like pens, notepads, magnets – even gift cards can make great incentives for people who visit your open house events.
- Create a Virtual Tour – If you want to reach more people outside of your local area, create a virtual tour on YouTube or other social media platforms where viewers can take a look inside the home from anywhere in the world!
TIP: Make sure all important seller valuables are removed, including safes.
By being strategic about how you advertise and plan out your open houses, you can draw in potential house hunters from all over and start building relationships with their agents along the way.
Showing off what makes this property unique is key when it comes to selling homes quickly and efficiently.
Showing The Property
When it comes to luxury real estate open house ideas, nothing is more important than showing the property in its best light.
Realtors must ensure that all of their open house essentials are taken care of before inviting house hunters through the door.
This includes ensuring that each room is well lit, decluttered and tastefully decorated. This work only for furnished listings where the budget allows physical staging.
Make sure to have prints or digital version of the floor plan and layout of the property. Apps like CubiCasa or Magicplan allows it in a very quick and easy way.
Consider what prospective buyers would like to see when walking into a home for the first time.
Take carefully the layout of the even, similar to example below. The concept can be applied almost to any type of space.
Furnished spaces – cozy focal points with furniture pieces, modern fixtures and appliances, perhaps even some art or wall hangings to add life all in a symmetrical balance with cohesive colors.
Vacant spaces – plants, floor lamps and functional seating divided in zones for group talks and private ones. Defined by a rug, the seating and floor lamps possibly with side tables and planters.
Since typical open houses last for 2 to 3 hours, it is important for the attendees to feel comfortable.
Doing so will help build interest in the property and create a positive atmosphere as they explore further.
Staging your property correctly means creating a personal brand and lifestyle experience within the walls – one that resonates with potential buyers and makes them feel at home.
Vacant properties are the easiest to and cheapest to stage. Turn the unsellable vacant homes to sell.
Home and Virtual Staging
When attempting to appeal to potential buyers, staging a property is key. Homeowners must be sure to make the most of their space by highlighting its best features and creating an inviting atmosphere for guests.
For example, here are some tips on how to stage your home for a summer open house:
- Declutter & Clean – This can help bring out the beauty of each room while making it appear larger than it really is.
- Invest in Furniture – Utilizing furniture that’s stylish and comfortable will give your home viewing package a boost.
- Add Some Color – Accent walls, rugs, pillows, and artwork can all add life to any real estate property showing ideas you have planned. All to match the season vibe, location and colors.
- Focus On First Impressions – Your front door should provide a warm welcome for guests as soon as they arrive!
- Stage Your Open House – a checklist for all well prepared zones is a must! Create an environment where prospective buyers feel like they’ve already stepped foot in their future home.
- Virtually stage – in case of a very low budget, time constraints or other, virtually staging property will perform as good as if you staged it physically. Print out the staged photos and place them on easels in each room. Even benefiting your marketing budget.
With these simple steps, you can ensure that no detail gets overlooked when it comes time to host your next open house event.
As long as everything looks great on the inside and out, utilizing technology such as virtual tours or a live stream on streaming services could further enhance prospects’ experience with your listings.
Utilizing Technology
Realtors are increasingly turning to technology to help promote open houses and draw in potential buyers.
According to the National Association of Realtors, 99% of homebuyers between 23 and 56 years old, do search online for their next property before they even consider visiting an open house.
This means that real estate agents should be utilizing digital marketing strategies such as social media posts, email campaigns and blog articles when advertising upcoming events. Here are a few tips on how to successfully market your open house using technology:
- Create engaging content via social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with eye-catching visuals and informative captions about the event
- Utilize advanced email outreach by sending out personalized emails targeting future buyers who fit the demographics you’re looking for
- Share blog posts related to the open house that include unique details about why it’s special or noteworthy, make it as “big time news”.
- Launch paid ads on search engines to drive more traffic towards your website
By leveraging these methods, realtors can reach a larger audience while also promoting creativity in their approach to organizing an open house.
With this kind of visibility comes improved engagement from prospective clients which will ultimately result in higher interest levels for any given property.
So don’t forget about incorporating technology into your plans when hosting an open house – it could mean the difference between success and failure!
As we move on from here, let’s look at some ways realtors can supply refreshments & amenities during an open house visit.
Open house food ideas
Realtors know the importance of making a great first impression, and supplying refreshments & amenities is an essential part of creating a successful open house.
Having tasty snacks, appealing drinks and fun giveaways can attract future buyers to your event.
Consider having some open house giveaway ideas like custom branded items or gift cards that you can use to thank guests for attending.
When it comes to food and beverages, choose options that are quick and easy but also delicious – think cookies, cupcakes, fruit cups, hot cocoa or coffee!
When it comes to food and beverages, choose options that are quick and easy but also delicious – think cookies, cupcakes, fruit cups, hot cocoa or coffee!
If you can spend more of your budget and really want to make the event special, below are two lists of special dishes.
Easy, cheap and delicious options:
Things to have at an open house should include tasteful decorations as well; use flowers or greenery around your home to spruce up the atmosphere.
To finish off the look, make sure there’s music playing in the background – something cheerful and upbeat will keep people engaged throughout their visit.
Make sure you greet every guest with a smile so they feel welcomed from the start.
Don’t forget about providing them with informational brochures too – this way they can take away helpful information about what you have available for sale.
Creating A Follow-Up Plan
Realtors have to think outside the box to create an effective open house that stands out from the open house leads their competition.
Broker event ideas and creative open house strategies are key for success. After the exclusive open house is complete, it’s important to make sure you don’t forget about your guests.
Creating a follow-up plan ensures you keep in touch with everyone who attended, as well as those interested but didn’t show up.
This will help strengthen relationships and maximize potential business opportunities. All of the above can be automated too!
When creating a follow-up plan, be sure to consider how often you should contact prospects, what type of content you’ll need based on what was discussed during the open house, and whether or not automation tools can be used.
The goal is to build trust by providing prospective customers with useful information throughout their real estate journey – without overdoing it and annoying them!
Being proactive with your follow-ups can pay off big time when it comes to converting leads into loyal clients. With this in mind, let’s move onto protecting yourself & your clients.
Protecting Yourself & Your Clients
When it comes to open houses, safety should be your number one concern. Realtors must consider the regulations and rules that protect themselves as well as their clients.
If you’re hosting an open house for a neighborhood or community, there are certain measures you can take to ensure everyone feels secure.
For instance, advertise in advance so those attending know what kind of open house hours they will experience. It is even more impactful if you can video this.
Make sure all entry points are locked before people arrive and check ID’s if necessary.
- You may also want to have someone stationed outside during the event to greet visitors and make sure only invited guests enter the property.
- Provide security personnel with contact information in case of any suspicious behavior or emergencies.
By taking these proactive steps, you can create an atmosphere where everyone feels safe while enjoying the creative real estate ideas presented at your open house!
Regulations To Consider
From the moment of planning a real estate open house, regulations come into play.
Regulations can provide limitations—but also may be used to create opportunity.
It’s best for any realtor or broker to consider local laws and other governing bodies when hosting an open house event. This helps ensure that all parties involved in the process are on board with the creative ideas being implemented.
A successful open house requires creativity and innovation from both the realtor and their guests.
When looking for the best property viewing ideas, remember to go beyond traditional methods; think outside of the box while still adhering to rules set by local law.
Remain compliant with legal regulations
Think about how you can make your event unique and memorable – try adding fun activities like interactive games or even food trucks!
By taking advantage of these opportunities, you will have a better chance at making your open house stand out among other real estate brokers’ events.
Ultimately, it is important to remain compliant with legal regulations while creating an environment that encourages engagement between listing agents and those attending your event.
With proper planning and adherence to protocols, any realtor or broker can host a successful open house that makes a lasting impression on potential buyers.
The next step is handling open house protocols correctly so that everyone feels comfortable participating in this exciting experience!
Handling Open House Protocols
Now that you know the regulations for hosting an property showing for real estate business, let’s get creative!
With all the rules of thumb in mind, even as a junior real estate agent you have plenty of room to plan and execute a successful event.
From theme choices to decorations and activities, there are endless possibilities when it comes to creating memorable experiences at your next open house.
A great way to start is by exploring the best open houses trends online or asking other professionals what they’ve done in their open house visitors the past.
Consider coordinating with local vendors such as caterers and florists who can bring even more life into your event.
Spruce Up Your Next Event With Local Vendors & Suppliers
One of the best ways to spruce up your next open house event is to involve local vendors and suppliers.
It is done by inviting local vendors to the event to showcase their products and services, giving the open house a more lively atmosphere.
Local vendors and suppliers can also attract potential buyers to the open house event. The vendors can provide potential buyers with information about the local area and its amenities and show off their merchandise.
This can be a great way to give potential buyers an idea of what the site offers and can also help increase interest in the property.
Just try to avoid turning the event into a Sunday market with no heavy advertisement or promotion.
Whether you opt for traditional methods or try something more inventive, these creative property showcase ideas for realtors provide options that can help increase engagement at any gathering.
Assessing Results & Making Adjustments
A survey of 150 realtor teams done by the TALLBOX revealed that 78% believe a creative open house can be the difference between success and failure.
With this in mind, it’s important to assess the results of your open house attendees and houses, so you can make adjustments if needed.
One way to do this is by using brokers’ home tour ideas as well as making remarks on MLS listings about the successful turnout.
Consider Apartment Showings
Events for houses and apartments have some differences.
Conclusion
As a realtor, house viewing is one of the most effective ways to get your property in front of future buyers.
Creating an inviting atmosphere that appeals to their senses and shows off the best features of the home can be challenging but totally worth it.
With some thoughtful planning and creative ideas, you can make sure your open house stands out from the competition!
How do you ensure your next open house stands apart?
Take time to think through all aspects of your open house:
- sign preparation
- advertising strategies
- protecting yourself and clients
- regulations to consider
- handling protocols
- assessing results
Make sure to keep track of what works well for future open houses. Keep the script (recipe) for reference so you know how to tweak things as needed.
Finally, ask yourself: What unique element could I add to this experience to make my open house memorable?
Whether it’s a special giveaway or something more interactive like virtual staging or 3D floor plans — taking advantage of today’s technology will help draw people in and keep them engaged.
A little bit of effort can go a long way into making this event successful!
