When it comes to selling your home, no strategy is more successful than an old-fashioned open house. Open houses are the best tool in bringing would-be buyers right to a seller’s doorstep, as long as you do them right.

Not sure how to host an open house, or what tips-and-tricks you should use to get immediate offers? In this article, we’re covering everything you need to know about hosting an open house, so you can find serious buyers fast.

How to Host an Open House That’ll Get You Tons of Offers

Anyone can host an open house, but it takes real strategy and insight to hold an effective one. Here are some expert tips and tricks on how to have a successful open house.

 Promote the Event

Planning an awesome open house is useless if you can’t find qualified buyers to come to it. That’s why the first thing you need to do is promote your open house, so they know to come!

Invest some money into signage, so you can display your open house information across the city. This signage can be anywhere, from newspaper posts to social media and bus benches. You can even have a gazebo with your logo!

Make sure your signage includes your business name, logo, branding materials, and personal information if applicable. Try to display signs in a 3 to 4-mile proximity to your property, as well as directional signs.

If possible, put your signs out the day before the open house. Also, try to post a minimum of 20 signs per open house. By doing these two simple things, you can dramatically increase the exposure of your open house and attract qualified buyers.

 Prepare the Space

Once you’ve gotten the word out about the open house, the next thing you need to do is to get your space ready to show to buyers. This means decluttering the home!

By reducing clutter, you can help buyers better focus on the home itself, rather than what’s inside it. If there are too many unwanted items, suggest hosting a garage sale to get rid of items, or renting a storage unit to hold things in the meantime.

Once the home has been decluttered, it’s time to actually clean the space. Every nook and cranny should be cleaned, but specific attention should be paid to kitchen cabinets, drawers, the refrigerator, and laundry room.

If cleaning the space seems overwhelming or too time-consuming, it may be best to hire professional cleaners to take care of it for you.

Stage the Home

Sometimes the best way to sell your home is to stage it. This means keeping furniture to a minimum, completing any home improvement projects that haven’t been done, and remove personal items wherever possible. By neatly organizing the space and removing personal items you can make it easier for buyers to imagine themselves living in your home.

Staging the property isn’t only about what’s on the inside. You should also focus on the home’s outdoor spaces and overall curb appeal. Cut the grass, plant some fresh flowers if possible, and make sure your porch and entryway are clean.

Check Out Other Open Houses

In need of direction or inspiration for your open house? Then check out other open houses in your area! Take note of what’s working and not working and pay particular attention to how the place is actually staged.

Ask yourself, “are there any design elements they’re using that I can incorporate into my open house?” You should also listen closely to how the realtor talks to potential buyers. See what information they’re sharing first and assess if they’re doing a good job at selling the property.

Visit a few open houses, take notes, and then use them to guide how you plan your open house.

Schedule on the Right Day

Timing is everything, especially when it comes to open houses. The last thing you want to do is pick a bad date for buyers! That’s why you should look at what’s going on in your neighborhood and city before you pick a date.

Try to see if there are other related events that are occurring, so you can take advantage of increased traffic in your area. It may be a good idea to host it during a community event or something like a neighborhood garage sale.

Another great idea is to host it during Open House Weekend, an event hosted by the National Association of Realtors, that usually occurs in the late spring or early summer.

Use Social Media to Promote Your Open House

Beyond signage, online advertisements are an essential way of promoting your open house.  Advertise on sites like Craigslist and Zillow, post video tours of your property on sites like YouTube, or even create a website to promote your property.

If you’re more tech-savvy, you should consider trying out some cooler tech tools to advertise your open house. One great idea is actually using Facebook Live or Instagram Live to stream and record a walkthrough video of your property. This allows potential buyers to review your property remotely and ask relevant questions in real time.

Once you’ve recorded your video, you can post it on your Facebook page for greater traffic. You can also use your Instagram story to promote an upcoming video walkthrough, so potential buyers can make sure to tune in.  Another great idea is using an open house sign-in app, that lets potential buyers check in, ask custom questions, and submit any necessary contact data for follow-ups.

Host Your Open House Effectively

Whether you’re an FSBO or a realtor, being a gracious host is essential for pulling off a successful open house.  Prepare a sign-in sheet for guests, hand out property sheets, offer light refreshments, and invite guests to take a tour of their property at their leisure.

Make sure to get feedback from your guests and ask questions about the other properties seen and how your listing compares to them.

Don’t forget to follow up the day after your open house. Send a “thank you” message to all attendees with a link to your website or listing.  You should follow up with qualified buyers after that, see if they have questions, and source suggestions for making your property more appealing to buyers.

Final Thoughts on How to Host an Open House

Preparing for an open takes time (and patience), but the payoff far outweighs the effort! By knowing how to host an open house, you can bring the best potential buyers to your doorstep and sell your property in no time!

Did you find the information in this article helpful? Check us out for more advice for home sellers!