Category: Open Houses

Even if you’ve checked off every item on your list of open house preparations, your work is far from over—now it’s time to find people to attend.

Luckily, there are many ways you can publicize your open house. We’ve outlined six of the most effective methods to attract agents and potential homebuyers to your open house below.

#1. Print Advertising

Despite claims that print is dead, real estate agents still find value in advertising properties in local newspapers and magazines. A simple ad with the details of your open house can catch the eye of potential homebuyers flipping through the real estate section. Another route you can take with print advertising is posting flyers in heavily trafficked areas, such as bulletin boards at stores and in the window(s) of your real estate office.

#2. Signage

Along with posting flyers around town, another great way to drive traffic to an open house the day of the event is to post open house signage around the property and outside of the neighborhood, alerting consumers driving or walking by that an open house is happening. These signs also function as a directional tool to help people find their way to the property. 

#3. Social Marketing

One of the most effective ways to reach a large audience in a short amount of time is social media advertising. Yes, you can post your open house flyer to your Facebook business page, Twitter and Instagram accounts to spread the word to your fans and followers, but why stop there?

All three social platforms offer a variety of paid advertising options that are guaranteed to increase your reach. For as low as $5 a day, you can set up a campaign that best fits your end goal and budget. Just be sure your ad is eye-catching and adheres to the rules of each platform, which you can find in Hootsuite’s Complete Guide to Social Advertising. 

#4. Word of Mouth

Call up friends, family and other real estate agents to personally invite them (and anyone they know who is looking to purchase a home) to your open house. A personal phone call not only helps to increase open house attendance, but it can also help you connect with other agents in your market.

#5. Email Marketing

It’s time to put that database you’ve spent so many hours building to good use. Send out a blast to your entire database with a detailed flyer inviting them to attend. Remember, consumers are bombarded with hundreds of emails a day, so be certain to send out your open house flyer with an attention-grabbing subject line, such as Don’t miss out on the house of a lifetime! or You’re Invited: One-of-a-Kind Open House.

#6. Rent-a-Drone

For agents with a larger budget, companies like FlyGuys offer drone services, an advertising tactic that many real estate agents have found to be a great way to attract potential buyers to an open house. Some companies even attach professional banners to drones that are then flown in public places to pique consumers’ interest and get more traffic to the open house.

What’s your favorite technique to spread the word about an open house? Let us know in the comments below.

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AgentEDU® is a platform where agents at every level can come to watch 10-minute video courses for the many situations that successful agents must master. From essential to advanced level and everything in between, AgentEDU® courses help agents become top producers with increased earnings and a plan for continued growth.

AgentEDU® is an Agent Publishing brand. For nearly two decades, Agent Publishing has been committed to providing residential real estate professionals with the information and training required to build successful and meaningful careers in their local markets. Agent Publishing’s influence extends to every career stage and reaches agents across print, digital, events and online learning.

Open houses present real estate agents with considerable opportunities for their business. In addition to the obvious benefit of showcasing the listing, they can also introduce the agent to dozens of potential clients for future business.

However, open houses also feature many moving parts, and there is considerable room for error. Read below to learn about the three common open house mistakes that great agents never make, and how to avoid them.

#1. Neglecting the Seller

The owner of the listing must be on board with whatever you are planning for the open house, and it is a big mistake not to clue them in on the process.

Not only will the seller feel more involved in the sale of their home, but they can also help out with handling some of the prep work, such as: removing the small appliances, fixtures and other items that are not included in the sale; securing all valuables; and cleaning up the home.

#2. Not Preparing Adequately

Considerable preparation goes into an open house, and it is a major oversight to skip any of your due diligence. For one, there is the staging process. Before opening a listing to the public, it must be properly staged, which can entail anything from repainting bright colors, to removing unnecessary furniture, to emphasizing a home’s spaciousness and storage capacities by removing unneeded items like seasonal clothing.

Additionally, agents must be prepared to offer each attendee of the open house a complete, top-down sales tour. Along with discussing and demonstrating the listing’s many qualities – show off how impressive that counter space is in the kitchen! – memorize all the listing’s particular details, from its square footage, to its room sizes, to any homeowner association/condo fees that buyers can expect.

Finally, the schematics of the open house must also be set. Sign-in tables, refreshments, signage around the neighborhood – every minute detail must be fine-tuned for open house success.

#3. Fumbling the Takeaway

All the signage was set up around the neighborhood. Delicious cookies were served. And you provided fun, detailed tours to everyone who attended the open house. However, when it was all said and done, did you really seal the deal and provide any takeaways?

This is the most tragic of the open house mistakes: not offering prospective buyers with anything to take with them when they leave (and remember the property by!) There are a number of ways agents can accomplish that, including:

Takeaway Materials

How do you expect home shoppers to remember your listing if they don’t have anything to bring home and share with their loved ones? Position yourself as a neighborhood expert by providing brochures or glossy handouts about the property and the area’s many amenities.

Consumer Reviews

Sure, all the attendees appeared to love your tour, but how can you really be sure? Ask everyone to fill out a short survey about their experience and their impressions of the house; the truth hurts sometimes, but the information can help refine your approach if needed, ultimately leading to the home’s sale.

Lasting Contact

Whenever we talk to agents who host successful open houses, they always emphasize what a goldmine they are for meeting new clients. Do you have a follow-up system in place to add attendees to your database and maintain contact with them? They may not buy the listing you’re showing that day, but if you impress them, they may think of you when they’re ready to buy or sell a home.

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AgentEDU® is a platform where agents at every level can come to watch 10-minute video courses for the many situations that successful agents must master. From essential to advanced level and everything in between, AgentEDU® courses help agents become top producers with increased earnings and a plan for continued growth.

AgentEDU® is an Agent Publishing brand. For nearly two decades, Agent Publishing has been committed to providing residential real estate professionals with the information and training required to build successful and meaningful careers in their local markets. Agent Publishing’s influence extends to every career stage and reaches agents across print, digital, events and online learning.