Open House Checklist

 As a seller, you already understand the critical role that listings play in the real estate market. They are essential for attracting potential buyers, boosting awareness, generating leads, and of course, securing the deal. While open houses might not be the most exciting part of the process (unless we are showcasing a high-end property on HGTV), they are an important component of selling your home. Open houses provide opportunities to impress potential buyers, expand awareness, demonstrate interest in closing a deal, and more.

To help ensure your open house is a success, we've put together a comprehensive checklist with a clear timeline. This will help you stay organized and make sure every detail is covered before your next open house.

You've decided to host an open house—great choice! Here are the first steps to get started:

• Choose the Date and Time: Typically, open houses are held on weekends. Pick a date and time that will attract the most visitors.
• Inform Your Sellers: Notify your sellers about the open house details well in advance. This will give them time to prepare the home, including cleaning and vacating the property during the event.
• Coordinate with Vendors: If you plan to collaborate with any vendors, such as staging professionals or local businesses, make sure their availability aligns with your chosen date and time.

As your realtor, I recommend leveraging other professionals in my network—such as lenders, title representatives, and escrow officers—to enhance your open house. By including these key players, we can turn your open house into a comprehensive resource for potential buyers.

This approach not only provides valuable home-buying expertise in one place but also creates opportunities for mutual lead sharing. Prospective buyers may connect with these experts during the event, while clients from these vendors might become interested in your home or refer others to you. This collaborative effort can make your open house more effective and beneficial for everyone involved.

•  Secure Valuables: Safely store tech devices (laptops, tablets, phones), bills, spare keys, and prescription medications.
• Clean Countertops: Clear all countertops and remove small appliances like toasters and coffee makers.
• Store Keys and Personal Items: Ensure all keys and personal belongings are out of sight.
• Declutter: Tidy away everyday items such as dishes, mail, shoes, coats, children's toys, and sporting equipment.
• Organize the Refrigerator: Take 15 minutes to clean and organize the fridge, as buyers will likely check it.
• Adjust the Thermostat: Set the thermostat appropriately for the weather to ensure a comfortable environment.
• Play Soft Music: Create a welcoming atmosphere with gentle background music.
• Turn on All Lights: Ensure all lights are on to brighten the space.
• Organize or Store Toys: Keep children's toys tidy or store them away while your home is on the market.
• Minimize Furniture: Remove excess furniture to create a more spacious appearance.
• Clear Walkways: Ensure walkways to and from the home are clean and clear.
• Make Beds: Ensure all beds are neatly made.
• Take Out the Trash: Remove garbage and consider hiding trash cans.
• Minimize Personal Photos: Reduce the number of family photos on display.
• Thorough Cleaning: Conduct a deep home clean, hiring a cleaning service if necessary.
• Enhance Curb Appeal: Mow the lawn, trim shrubbery, and ensure the exterior is tidy.
• Prepare Bathrooms: Make bathrooms shine by cleaning mirrors and glass surfaces and ensuring toilet seats are down.
• Add Fresh Flowers: Place fresh flowers or plants on the dining table.
• Provide Snacks and Water: Offer light refreshments for guests.
• Clear Refrigerator Surface: Remove magnets and pictures from the refrigerator.
• Open Windows: Allow natural light to fill the home by opening windows.
• Replace Burnt-Out Bulbs: Ensure all light fixtures have working bulbs.
• Hide Pet Items: Conceal pet feeding bowls, litter boxes, and beds.
• Final Cleaning Touches: Conduct a final dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming just before the open house or showing.

To effectively promote your upcoming open house, it’s crucial to make the most of your social media and email marketing. Here’s our plan to help get the word out:

• Create Engaging Visuals: Design eye-catching posts and stories to share across your social media platforms. These visuals should highlight the details of the open house.
• Collaborate with Vendors: If you have vendors participating in the open house, ask them to share your posts or create their own about the event. This helps extend your reach by tapping into their networks.
• Include Key Details: Ensure all your promotional materials include the date, time, address, and contact information for the open house.
• Use Reminder Tools: Utilize Facebook event invites, Instagram Stories stickers, and 'Add to Calendar' links in your email campaigns to keep the event top-of-mind.
• Target Local Buyers: If you know of potential buyers in the area, send a dedicated email newsletter highlighting your property and inviting them to the open house.
• Update Your Listings: Don’t forget to add your open house details to your online listing to attract local home shoppers actively searching online.

As we approach the open house, here are a few key tasks to ensure everything runs smoothly:

• Check Your Signage: Make sure all open house signs are ready, with clear details including the date, time, address, photos, and your branding.
• Complete Printing Orders: Place your orders for printed materials so they’re ready for pickup by the weekend. This includes sign-in sheets with clear labeling and branding if you’re not using digital devices, as well as informational packets and a fresh stack of business cards.
• Arrange Refreshments: If local regulations permit, consider securing catered food or drinks from a local business. Alternatively, you can purchase shelf-stable snacks and beverages like water.
• Prepare Takeaways: You might also want to prepare goodie bags with branded items such as hand sanitizer, keychains, pens, and notepads. Place these near the sign-in area to leave a lasting impression.

As we approach the open house, it’s a great time to reach out to nearby buyers you’ve been working with or other leads in the area. Since the event is just a few days away, consider giving them a call, sending a text, or dropping a direct message. This will not only show that you’re actively thinking about their needs but also reinforce your commitment to finding them the perfect home.

Ideally, you’ve already informed them through an email blast and they’ve seen your social media posts and stories about the open house. Keeping up with a steady flow of reminders will help ensure they don’t miss this opportunity.

Before the open house, check with the seller, neighborhood community, or HOA to ensure that marketing materials are permitted in the area. If they are, you should set out yard signs, hang flyers, and distribute them by leaving them on doors and in mailboxes.

Although it might seem old-fashioned, this is also a great chance to personally connect with neighbors. Introducing yourself door-to-door not only helps promote the open house but also establishes a relationship for any future real estate needs they or someone they know might have.

Pro Tip: Keep track of where you place signs, balloons, and other promotional materials so we can easily remove them after the open house is over.

The staging you do before the open house might not fully replace a professional stager's work, but it can still make a significant impact. Studies show that 81% of buyers' agents believe staging helps buyers visualize themselves living in a home. To enhance the home's appeal, consider rearranging furniture if needed, and ask your sellers for cozy touches like throw pillows and blankets. Adding scented candles or a fresh bouquet can make the space feel warm and inviting.

Friendly reminder for Friday: If you plan to use an iPad for sign-ins, make sure it’s fully charged. Plug it in tonight so it’s ready by the time the open house starts. Additionally, for an efficient way to capture visitor contact information, you might want to download and set up tools like Curb Hero or Spacio.

Today’s the day for your open house! Make sure to post reminders across your social media profiles to give your followers one last nudge. This will complement the calendar invites and reminder notifications you’ve already set up.

For the property itself, ensure it’s easily visible and accessible for attendees. If permitted by the neighborhood, set out balloons or directional signs with arrows guiding people to the open house. If not, ramp up your social media efforts. Consider going live on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok to give a sneak peek of the home before guests arrive. This can generate excitement and draw more attention to the event.

Every visitor to the open house is a potential lead, so it's important to make a great impression. Have your laptop, iPad, or sign-in sheets ready and positioned near the entrance, with clear signage indicating that sign-in is required to proceed.

Place food, beverages, and materials such as information packets, business cards, and goodie bags nearby, so that prospects can easily access them after signing in. Additionally, consider adding welcome signs or branded signage to highlight your business, team, or brokerage.

If you have vendors joining the open house, be sure to separate their sign-in process from yours to keep things organized and clear for everyone involved.