If you want to generate quality real estate leads at your next open house but need help figuring out where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Open houses can be an excellent way for agents to get their listing in front of potential buyers, but they require thoughtful planning and strategy to make the most of your time and effort.
With some creative ideas for making a great first impression and capturing solid contact info from motivated buyers, you’ll be well on turning open house attendees into qualified clientele. In this post, we’ll explore several proven tactics for running a strategic open house that gets you quality leads rather than just casual lookers.
Read on for outside-the-box ways to stand out from the competition and generate real value from your open house.
Tried-and-Tested Open House Ideas for Realtors
Open houses are one of the most popular forms of marketing that aims to meet interested individuals and turn them into future clients. These events should be planned carefully because it’s how you can sell your listed properties fast. To help you get started, check out our curated list of ideas below:
Choose the Right Day and Time
The perfect date and time for open houses to be held are during weekends, when your potential clients are free and have the time to attend the event. It primarily depends on the location, but most realtors would set open houses on weekends for more chances of getting more qualified viewers.
Take time to gauge the neighborhood before you choose a date. Most are usually empty during the weekdays because everyone would be at work, so it’s best to have it on a weekend when everyone is home. However, there are locations where weekends aren’t ideal, such as tourist spots or vacation rental properties. In these cases, you’ll want to set them during the weekdays when local clients are present.
Build the Hype with Marketing
Once you have chosen the date for your open house, you should begin with the marketing. If you already have a social media profile, you should create a visually appealing post detailing the open house’s date, time, and location. It would also help if you also had a physical presence in the neighborhood, such as the following:
- Create flyers to distribute to nearby houses or place them on community bulletin boards.
- Put up real estate yard signs at the center of the property and include a QR code to provide more information about the open house.
- Partner with local businesses who can attend the event as a sponsor, such as food places that can give out free samples or sell their goodies during the open house.
These marketing strategies will help build anticipation and attract more buyers to your open house. Simple yard signs can already increase visibility. How much more if you leverage traditional and word-of-mouth marketing?
Focus on the Property’s Best Features
As a real estate agent, you should know your target customers and see through their eyes. Which part of the house will make them want to seal the deal? Highlight these features in your open house and showcase them by making a stunning property walkthrough. You should also list these in the property’s listing description and marketing materials.
Some ways you can highlight a property’s features:
- Stage the rooms to show their potential use and functionality.
- Use natural lighting to create a bright and inviting atmosphere.
- Set up informative signs in different areas of the property that highlight its unique elements.
These are simple yet effective approaches that can capture your potential client’s attention. Who knows? You may find the right client simply because you effectively highlighted what they were looking for. All it takes is one right move to sell fast!
Food and Entertainment
Viewing a house can be boring, so you want to liven up the atmosphere with entertainment that will prevent visitors from leaving. For instance, you can hire a DJ to play music while the event isn’t ready yet, or you can set up a photo booth for guests to take pictures as they wait.
When the program starts, you can prepare light snacks and refreshments for attendees while roaming the property. Some realtors would even hire a caterer to provide seemingly bottomless finger foods and beverages everyone could enjoy.
If you’re on a budget, asking some food businesses to collaborate with you never hurts. They can give out some samples of their food or drinks, which will give your visitors an idea of what the neighborhood has to offer. Plus, these businesses can effectively market their products!
Livestream the Event
Thanks to the internet and social media, livestreaming is now easier than ever. You don’t need an elaborate setup to stream the open house. All you need is your smartphone and a stable internet connection!
Why should you livestream an open house?
- People who couldn’t attend can still see the property and decide whether to schedule a personal visit.
- It allows potential out-of-state or overseas clients to participate in the event.
- You can repurpose the footage as marketing material, showcasing the success of your open house and generating more interest in the property.
It’s all about being resourceful with what you have. If you have more online followers, live streaming allows you to engage with them even if they’re far away. It might be the only push they need to buy that house and move to your state!
Host Raffles and Contests
More people might be interested in attending the open house once they find out you’ll host a raffle or a contest. Sure, they may be only interested in attending because of the prizes offered, but it might also be because they’re curious about the property.
Apart from curiosity, you can turn them into leads by getting their contact information. Making small talk with these visitors could lead to better opportunities, and you might find a property that suits their interests. They might turn into a client, and it’s all because they attended your open house to enter a raffle contest!
Get Better Leads During Your Open House
Getting leads means you must put in a lot of work, especially at open houses. The best part about the tips listed above is you can use them all together or choose which ones you think would give the best results. So, if you want to maximize the potential of your open house, our strategies are worth the try!
