If there’s an increase in housing inventory and more favorable interest rates in 2025, you’ll still need to find innovative ways to generate buzz for your listings and expand your client network. Despite the rise in popularity of TikTok videos and Instagram reels, real estate open houses remain one of the best ways to attract new clients. Here’s a comprehensive guide to making your open house a must-attend event, with creative ideas that cover everything from planning and marketing to hosting and follow-up.
Open house ideas: Planning your next event
While not every client may want or need an open house, you can leverage open house events to help you achieve your real estate career goals. We’ve curated some open house ideas to assist you in planning, staging, marketing, hosting, and following up on your open house events.
Listing and marketing properties can be complex. We recommend Top Producer for its CRM and transaction management tools. With Top Producer, you’ll receive reminders for important milestones with every new listing, allowing you to stay on track with multiple processes and task plans.
1. Market homes to market yourself
Ideally, your open house should feature a property with high foot traffic in your desired farm area. This will help you connect with the type of buyers you want to target. If you can’t secure listings like this, offer to hold open house events for busy agents in your brokerage who have listings in the areas you aspire to work in.
Pay attention to the characteristics of the property’s surrounding community and ensure your event caters to the demographic you aim to serve. Tailor your marketing efforts to align with the needs of your desired clientele.
To capture contact details of new clients, consider using a tool like Curb Hero. Curb Hero is a privacy-compliant app that helps you digitize and organize your open house sign-ins, enhancing lead capture. It integrates with over 6,000 CRMs.
For more real estate apps and digital tools that sync with your database and aid in open house lead follow-up, check out the article below.
2. Strategically choose the day & time
Selecting a time of day with ample natural light can accentuate the home’s interior features. Alternatively, a nighttime view of the city skyline can be captivating for the right buyer and listing. Consider showcasing a property’s best features during the golden hour, such as an amazing sunset view from the backyard.
While weekends may seem like the best time for open houses, it’s important to consider your target demographic. Experiment with different scheduling options to cater to the availability of potential buyers, especially families with busy weekend schedules.
3. Stage the home (including virtual staging)
Staging homes can lead to quicker sales and higher prices. According to a recent study by the National Association of REALTORS Research Group, using a home staging service results in higher offers and fewer days on the market.
Over half of buyers’ agents believe that quality home staging influences clients’ perception of a property, making it easier for buyers to envision themselves living there. Before staging, consider creating a budget with your clients, developing floor plans, and utilizing QR codes for virtual staging options.
- Create a budget: Agree on a staging budget and desired ROI with your clients.
- Create a floor plan: Develop digital floor plans and video walkthroughs with virtual staging options.
- Use a QR code generator: Implement scannable QR codes in each room that link to virtually staged versions to help attendees visualize the property in various styles.
Innovative ways to market your next open house
To make your open house stand out, tailor your marketing strategies to the unique features of each property. Consider factors like the property’s location, walkability, and target audience when planning your marketing approach.
4. Add open house details to your MLS listing
Utilize your MLS to share the date and time details of your open houses. Popular real estate search engines like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com rely on MLS listings to drive traffic to open houses. Ensure you include open house details in your MLS listing to reach a wider audience.
5. Tease out your open house with social media campaigns
Two weeks before the open house, start posting details and teasers on social media platforms. Utilize Instagram reels and TikTok videos to showcase behind-the-scenes footage of the property. Collaborate with local influencers to create custom content about the listing and its neighborhood to engage with your target buyers.
Coffee & Contracts offers a subscription-based social media toolkit with templates for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube at an affordable price.
6. Promote your open house in local Facebook groups
Reach a hyperlocal audience by posting your open house in city or neighborhood Facebook groups. This approach encourages word-of-mouth promotion among group members, potentially connecting you with interested homebuyers in the area.
7. Market your open house with an email drip campaign
Send reminders to contacts in your email database residing near the open house location. Encourage them to forward the email to friends or colleagues who may be interested in the area. Prompt readers to reply if they are in the market for a new home.
Market Leader offers automated email drip campaigns and CRM organization tools to help you design and send targeted emails to potential leads.
8. Cold call buyers in your database
Utilize cold calling to generate interest in your open house, especially in low-inventory markets. Inform prospects about the event and encourage them to attend or share the details with their network. Top Producer’s CRM includes an automated phone dialer to help you scale your cold-calling efforts and increase attendance at your open houses.
9. Organize a direct mail campaign
Consider a direct mail campaign to promote your open house to a targeted audience. Platforms like Wise Pelican offer affordable, full-color postcards to attract potential buyers in the surrounding area.
For more details on real estate farming, direct mail campaigns, and circle prospecting, refer to our comprehensive guides linked below.
10. Invite prospective sellers
Open houses are not only for meeting buyers but also for deepening relationships with potential sellers in your network. Invite them to witness your marketing skills in action, potentially inspiring them to list their own properties. Handwrytten offers personalized open-house invitations that can be ordered in bulk and sent directly to your database.
If you prefer a more targeted approach, consider using predictive analytics tools like SmartZip to identify potential sellers near your listings and nurture them into leads.
Creative ideas for hosting your next open house
Hosting a memorable open house requires creativity and attention to detail. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and create a welcoming atmosphere to ease their stress and enhance their experience.
11. Host an exclusive, neighbors-only preview
Offer neighbors an exclusive preview of the property before the public viewing begins. This personalized approach can build rapport with neighbors and showcase your dedication to providing excellent service to your clients.
12. Add custom signage to direct guests
Custom signage can help guests navigate the property and feel welcome from the moment they arrive. Consider creating custom welcome mats, water bottle tags, and other decor elements to enhance the open house experience.
Canva is a user-friendly tool for designing flyers, mailers, and custom signage tailored to your open house event.
13. Set up a welcome table
Create a welcoming atmosphere with a designated welcome table featuring a friendly sign, water bottles, and personalized neck tags with your contact details. Utilize Canva to design a custom welcome sign and incorporate QR codes from Curb Hero for easy mobile sign-ins.
14. Warmly welcome every guest
Introduce yourself to every guest upon arrival and encourage them to share their contact details and property interests on the sign-in sheet. Engage with guests by highlighting the property’s unique features and offering assistance throughout the open house.
Consider offering branded items like keychains, pens, or office accessories as tokens of appreciation. Goodie bags with local area information, branded swag, and small treats can also leave a lasting impression on guests.
17. Mingle & network effectively
Engage with guests by striking a balance between providing information about the property and giving them space to explore. Share interesting facts about the property and inquire about guests’ reasons for attending. Ensure you follow up with guests after the event to maintain a connection.
18. Livestream your open house for virtual attendees
Enhance your reach by livestreaming the event on social media platforms, allowing virtual attendees to experience a tour of the property remotely. This not only extends your audience but also showcases your marketing capabilities and establishes a digital presence.
19. Collect contact information
Collecting lead information from open house attendees is crucial for follow-up and lead nurturing. Implement digital sign-in tools like QR codes to streamline the process and encourage guest participation in prize draws or giveaways.
Utilize CRM-integrated tools for efficient lead management and follow-up, ensuring you capitalize on the potential leads generated from your open house event.
20. Team up with local businesses
Collaborate with local businesses such as coffee shops, DJs, or interior designers to enhance the open house experience. Choose partners that align with the property’s vibe and target audience, creating a unique and memorable event for attendees.
21. Showcase local artists
Host a gallery showing featuring local artists to add a creative touch to your open house event. This initiative not only enhances the property’s ambiance but also supports local artists and fosters community connections.
Open house follow-up ideas
Effective follow-up after an open house event is crucial for converting leads into clients. Implement organized and timely follow-up strategies to nurture relationships with potential buyers and maximize sales opportunities.
22. Follow up with every guest, right away
Ensure you reach out to every open house attendee within 24 hours to maintain engagement and demonstrate your professionalism. Personalized and prompt follow-up communicates your commitment to assisting buyers in their home search journey.
23. Segment your new leads in your CRM
Segment your open house leads in your CRM based on their interests and preferences. Tag them as active buyers and send them relevant listings and updates to nurture their interest. Tools like Follow Up Boss offer CRM integration and automation features to streamline lead management and communication.
Open house ideas: The full picture
Successful open houses require strategic planning, personalized marketing, and proactive follow-up. By incorporating creative ideas and leveraging digital tools, you can optimize your open house events to attract buyers, expand your client network, and achieve your real estate goals. Implement these innovative strategies to sell your listings effectively and establish lasting relationships with clients.