Open House Tips for Real Estate Agents

By Greg Smith

Greg Smith has called Colorado home since 1986, when he came to attend the University of Colorado. After selling a successful marketing company and earning a graduate degree in information systems, Greg joined RE/MAX Alliance in 1998, where he quickly became Managing Broker and later co-owner of the Boulder Valley office.

As a real estate agent, I hear it all the time—some agents love open houses, and some don’t. But let me tell you, open houses do work, and when done right, they can be one of the best tools in your selling toolkit. Here’s how to make them effective and how you can use them to sell homes faster.

Pre-preparing for success. The key to a great open house starts long before the actual event. The first step? Pre-preparation. Many agents skip this part, but without it, your open house will likely fall flat. A week before your open house, make sure everything is set up.

Advertise it the house by putting it on popular websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and MLS. Also, don’t forget to leverage social media—post about the open house on Facebook. And don’t just wait for people to show up—call your sphere of influence. Let friends, family, and past clients know that you’re hosting an open house and invite them to come by.

Being prepared the day of. Preparation doesn’t stop at the advertising. On the day of the open house, make sure you’re ready. Arrive at least 30 minutes early to turn on the lights, open the blinds, and make the house feel welcoming.

Put up plenty of signs to direct people, and have your sign-in sheet ready. Sellers will appreciate knowing who came through, and visitors will feel more at ease when they know what to expect. Don’t rush—be confident and prepared when people walk through the door.

Follow up to seal the deal. Follow-up is where many agents miss the mark. After your open house, it’s critical to reach out to everyone who signed in. If someone asked questions or seemed interested in the home, follow up with answers and any additional information they might need. It shows you care and positions you as the expert. I’ve seen missed opportunities happen when agents don’t check their follow-up messages. Don’t let that happen to you.

Open houses are a great way to showcase a property and connect with potential buyers. With the right preparation and follow-up, they can make a big difference in your success. If you’d like more tips on how to host effective open houses or need guidance on selling your home, feel free to call or text me at 616-532-7200.