Open House

In depth

An open house is a marketing event, typically lasting 2 to 4 hours on a weekend afternoon, where any interested party can tour the home. The host (agent or owner) provides flyers, answers questions, and collects contact information for follow-up. Misconception: open houses are not just for selling the listed home; agents use them to recruit buyer clients who walk in unrepresented. Practically, FSBO sellers should host open houses to reach unrepresented buyers who can save commission. Safety considerations are important: never host alone, secure valuables, ask for ID at sign-in, and consider video monitoring. Marketing the open house through MLS, signs, social media, and door-knocking maximizes attendance. Capture contact information for follow-up offers.