The Essential Open House Checklist for Agents

One Week Before:

• Check the date you've chosen against local and national events (don't be the non-football fan agent who held her first open house on Superbowl Sunday)
• Check the date with the homeowner
• Invite your loan officer to attend
• Serving snacks/drinks? Determine what you'll offer and make a shopping list
• Create postcard invitations for neighbors
• Create branded handout packets (your business card, property flyers, door hangers floor plan drawing, neighborhood information, list of updates and repairs for the home, etc.)
• Create a sign-in sheet or download an open house app (AM Open House or Open Home Pro apps are popular)
• Ensure you have enough directional signs
• Post the open house on your MLS and Zillow and announce it at the sales meeting
• Promote the open house on social media with a link to the property flyer (hosted on your website).
• Consider live streaming the event on Facebook Live (learn more about this at dotloop.com)

3 to 4 Days Before:

• Install an "Open House this Weekend" sign rider to the property's for sale sign
• Mail invitations to neighbors and place real estate door hangers around your listing
• Confirm with your lender that he or she will be there
• Check in with your clients; remind them what they need to do to prepare the home (clean, remove sensitive paperwork, prescription drugs, weapons and valuables)
• Map out where you'll place directional signs
• Keep promoting on social media (is there a neighborhood group on Facebook? If so, don't neglect advertising the open house to that group)

24 Hours Before:

• Remind your clients about the open house and what they need to do to prepare
• Prepare snacks
• Load the car with directional signs
• Double down on social media mentions of the open house

The Day of the Open House:

• Plan on arriving at your listing at least 30 minutes to one hour before the open house is set to begin
• Pick up balloons, if you'll be using them
• Set up directional signs and balloons
• Set up open house sign in front of the home
• Prepare a table near the front door for guests to sign in
• Set up snack station
• Set out handout packets
• Tour the home to ensure that beds are made, toilet seats are down and that the home is generally neat and tidy
• Ensure that the homeowners removed valuables, weapons, paperwork and prescription drugs
• Open all curtains, drapes and blinds
• Turn on lights in all rooms and closets
• Use any "down time" to get familiar with other listings in the area that open house attendees may be interested in