Real Estate Open House Ideas That Will Actually Get You Leads

Today’s real estate market comes with some unique challenges. Between a scarcity in inventory and affordability issues, many agents are looking for new, creative real estate open house ideas. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Follow a detailed checklist to make your open house a success. You can find a guide within the article. 
• Keep in mind that almost everyone uses the internet in their home search now. Leverage digital tools (like social media and livestreaming) to align with your in-person open house strategy. 
• Even the best open house is pointless without follow up. Develop a multi-phase approach to contacting leads following your event (ideas below). 

Open houses, once decreasing in popularity, should be looked at through a new lens. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) tells us that about 2% of all buyers first visit an open house when starting their search. However – and more importantly –   41% of homebuyers utilized information from open houses in their home search. 

In other words, while open houses may not get the traffic that they used to, the traffic that they do bring is warmer and more ready to buy. The key is to appeal to today’s buyers using modern tools. Keep reading for creative real estate open house ideas to generate the leads you need to grow your business. 

Effective Planning and Execution of Open Houses

Open houses have long been a staple in the real estate industry, allowing potential buyers to explore properties in a casual, low-pressure setting. However, in today’s rapidly evolving market, agents must adapt their strategies to maximize the effectiveness of these events. 

It’s important to put careful thought into your event. The only thing worse than not having an open house is having one that is carelessly thrown together and leaves a bad impression.

Traditional In-Person Gatherings

While digital formats have gained popularity, traditional in-person open houses can still be a powerful tool for real estate agents. These gatherings allow potential buyers to see properties up close, fostering a personal connection with the space they can’t get online. 

Open houses can be more valuable for luxury properties, or agents who specialize in luxury real estate. 

Hosting the open house during peak hours, such as weekends, and promoting it through social media, local listings, and community boards can significantly increase attendance. Here is a quick checklist to help you execute a lead-generating open house.

1. Select the right date and time. Timing shouldn’t conflict with holidays or other days that will reduce traffic. 
2. Prepare the property. Clean and declutter the space and attend to any staging that needs to be done. 
3. Create marketing materials like flyers. Include key details and high-quality pictures for the listing. 
4. Promote your event. We’ll get into this, but use social media, real estate websites, and emails to spread the word. 
5. Set up a registration process so that you can track interested people. You can use a QR code for easy sign-ins. 
6. Arrive early on the day of the open house and complete last-minute preparations like setting out drinks. You can also adjust the temperature, play music, etc. 
7. Include refreshments like light snacks and beverages. 
8. Have marketing materials ready. Make sure your business cards or other materials are accessible but not obnoxious. 
9. Engage with attendees and monitor visitor flow. You may also want to collect feedback following the event, and make sure to follow up with leads. 

Creative Virtual Formats

Many agents are using digital formats, especially following the pandemic where people got used to doing things from home. According to Axios, 100% of people who buy homes use the internet as part of their search. It’s essential to be able to meet people where they are shopping – online. 

Utilizing platforms like Zoom or Facebook Live, agents can showcase properties to a broader audience, including those unable to attend in person. Virtual tours can be enhanced with 360-degree videos, allowing potential buyers to navigate through properties at their own pace. This format not only expands reach but also appeals to tech-savvy buyers looking for convenience.  

For virtual events, you can use specific virtual tour software and even virtual staging software. Lead forms will not only centralize all of the events’ attendees but also allow agents to feed these buyers back into their CRM as leads.

Unique Elements to Enhance Visitor Experience

To create more memorable experiences, agents should incorporate these creative real estate open house ideas into planning. 

Themed Decorations

Themed decorations can transform a standard open house into an inviting and immersive experience. For instance, a beach-themed open house could feature nautical decor, beach towels, and even ocean sounds playing in the background. 

Local Partnerships

Partnerships are important in a variety of ways. For your own open houses, it’s smart to involve other brands when you can. It can be a win-win situation. The brand gets exposure, and you can use products or services to draw more people in. 

Leverage the power of influencer posts to sell your house and make your open house not just a tour but an exciting event. For example, you can pair up with a local home improvement influencer on staging ideas and benefit from their followers attending. 

You can always ask to hold other real agents’ open houses or collaborate with a real estate brokerage to boost your brand. This is also great when you want to break into a new neighborhood or zip code. For example, if an agent from your office is out of town and needs someone to hold down the fort, you can volunteer your services. You can hold the open house for them, then negotiate a percentage of a referral fee for any new clients you get out of it.

Working alongside other companies and professionals is a smart way to build trust in a community and develop your brand. 

Enticing Refreshments

People are generally excited about anything free, but traditional real estate open-house food ideas have gotten a little predictable. Instead, partner with local coffee shops and cafes to donate (or discount) refreshments for your open houses. You don’t want the refreshments to distract from the house, but it can be a unique talking point. Make sure to promote their brand as well.

If it’s beautifully presented or especially unique, the spread can also encourage potential buyers to snap a picture and share it on their social media, increasing the number of eyes you get on your event. Have napkins or glasses with your brand and contact information listed nearby so that they make it in the shot too.

Employing Digital Tools for Open Houses

Incorporating digital tools can streamline the open house process and enhance visitor engagement.

QR Codes for Sign-Ins

Using QR codes for sign-ins simplifies the registration process and collects valuable visitor information. Attendees can scan a code with their smartphones, leading them to an online sign-in form. This method reduces paperwork and allows agents to follow up with potential leads more efficiently. 

If you are part of a brokerage, they should be able to help set these items up. Brokerages’ support for digital activities like virtual tours and follow-up should be a factor agents consider when evaluating which brokerage to join. 

Live Streaming Options

You can also livestream an in-person open house. This gives people the feeling of being at your open house without them being there. The best time to jump on a live stream is while the house is filled with people. This will help create further interest and bring more people in. Make sure that people get a good view of your branded items so they know who is hosting the open house. 

Follow-Up Strategies to Maximize Leads

After the excitement of the open house, there will be many thoughts on how to generate real estate leads with the follow-up process. This can be stressful, especially after meeting so many new people. That’s why it sometimes pays to take detailed notes of the potential leads you come across at the open house. Jot down what type of property they are looking for along with one or two unique things you pick up on during your conversation. You can then update that information straight into your real estate CRM. 

Most importantly, do not overlook the simple power of following up with people after an open house. The problem is finding the right people to follow up with so you don’t waste your time. Doing this is tricky, so some people use specific analytical predictive apps to figure out who is worth following up with, like SmartZip, BoldTrail, BoomTown, etc. These apps use billions of data points to give real estate agents leads from the best real estate lead generation companies.

At the same time, even with the countless apps, we should not forget about the human element. This requires mingling with each of your guests and not leaving anyone with lingering questions. Chat people up, ask what they’re looking for in a home, and most importantly – give them your business card. Assure them that you can take care of all of their buying and selling needs. 

While following up consistently is a vital part of creating a client base, the truth is there is a very short window of time before following up becomes ineffective. After the open house, load all of the contacts from your open house sign-in sheet to your CRM, and do not wait too long before you reach out to the interested buyers you met. You should follow up within 24 hours. 

There are specific CRMs that can help you communicate with ease, like Pipedrive, Follow Up Boss, or Zoho. You’ll also want to leverage the existing buyer database within an agent’s CRM. This step is much more effective if agents do the continual work to curate and expand their list of likely or active buyers. Agents can target this group with email campaigns informing them of the event, sending reminders, etc.

Leveraging Social Media for Open Houses

It’s crucial to have a social media strategy in the real estate industry. Your real estate open house ideas should have a social element, too. 

One of our favorite open house ideas for real estate is to livestream your event, but you can also use the stories function to promote the live stream beforehand. This method is very hands-on because people can quickly reply and send you a DM to inquire more about it. They can reach out to find where the open house is, and tag their friends and family on social media who might be looking in the area (and you should encourage people to do so). 

Community Engagement and Building a Personal Brand

​​As a real estate agent, you will have to learn that marketing for your open house is also a reflection of your brand, and as such, you have to take that marketing very seriously. People will respect your work more when they trust and resonate with your brand. 

You can market in-house or with the help of a marketing firm. However, if you want to do it yourself, there are many real estate marketing tools you can use to create flyer templates, banners, and real estate ads. Furthermore, it would be excellent to have a personal hand in marketing your brand because you understand your value proposition best. 

Measuring Success: Metrics to Track Open House Effectiveness

To evaluate the effectiveness of open houses, real estate agents should track various metrics. Key performance indicators may include attendance numbers, visitor feedback, social media engagement, and ultimately, the number of leads generated. Analyzing these metrics can provide insights into what strategies worked well and what areas require improvement, enabling agents to refine their approach for future events.

In reality, the effective planning and execution of your real estate open house ideas involve a blend of traditional and innovative strategies. By enhancing visitor experiences, leveraging digital tools, and implementing robust follow-up strategies, real estate agents can maximize the impact of their open houses, ultimately leading to increased sales and lasting relationships within the community.