A well-planned open house can help a real estate agent showcase a property in a way that YouTube walk-throughs and social media marketing can’t. At open houses, you meet many potential home-buyers, make connections. You’re more likely to get an offer at an open house than at any other time during the listing process.

Hosting an open house successfully is easier than you may think Here is how to host an open house to maximize the likelihood of closing a sale with a buyer:

1. Host the open house on Sundays

Sundays are widely believed to be the best day for an open house. A weekday isn’t good because people work and pick up their kids, do groceries, and run errands. Sunday is a calmer day of the week where you’re likely to get people dropping by.

Saturday can work as well. The best time to host an open house is between 11 am and 4 pm. Include the date and time on all flyers and marketing you put out.

2. Market your open house

If no one knows you’re hosting an open house, you can’t expect many people to show up. This is where a real estate agent or homeowner puts their marketing hat on. Invest in a social media campaign, spreading the word on sites like Facebook, where you can use targeted ads.

Be sure to put up some lawn signs or flyers posted nearby. Promote your open house for 7-14 days, giving people enough time to see the information and plan to visit.

3. Take high-quality photos for online ads

Invest in HD-quality photos that are properly lit. Include them in all listings online. Get people interested in coming to your open house before you set the date. To do this, hire a professional photographer and stage the home in these photos.

Make the houses for sale look outstanding. This will help your open house and the likelihood of getting an offer through digital marketing channels.

4. Prepare a property sheet

A property sheet will have extensive descriptions detailing the specifications of the home. The property sheet will include the asking price, contact info, and a brief property description.

Include real estate taxes, total square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, details on special features, appliances, recent upgrades, neighbourhood amenities and school information. This sheet will answer a lot of the questions a buyer may have.

5. Tell the neighbors

The spreading word that you’re hosting an open house. Let the neighbours know. Invite them to stop in. Tell them they can ask you about neighbourhood property values and other real estate questions. They will help you fill the place, increasing the perceived interest in a property.

You might also have another client on your hands if someone else in the neighbourhood likes your approach and is considering selling their property.

6. Stage your home

There is a lot that goes into staging a home. Here are some simple tips on how to stage a home.

• Declutter the space. Clean the home and set it in its best light.
• Depersonalize the space. Remove any family photos or personal items that could be distracting.
• Neutralize the space, bringing in neutral tones and neutral home décor.
• Rearrange furniture, if needed, to emphasize the natural flow and intuitive navigation through a space.

7. Fix what needs fixing

Unless you’re marketing the property as a fixer-upper, you will want to fix everything that needs to be fixed before your open house. Replace the air vents if they’re broken. Repaint and fix imperfections on the walls.

Ensure the electrical and plumbing are up to snuff. Any repairs you intend to make before the property sale should be done before the open house, including any renovations. You want to present your property as turnkey.

8. Set out some free food

Free food works. If it’s a summer day, throw a BBQ and cook up some hot dogs, including some vegan dogs. If it’s winter, offer some hot chocolate. Any time of year, coffee and cookies are always fun. This is also a way to fill the house with an inviting aroma that gives it a warm touch.

Be sure to plan and gather enough free food for the audience you’re expecting. These food items aren’t very expensive and can be quickly cooked up.

9. Be the most gracious host

When it’s the day of the open house, it’s time for you to sink into ‘host mode.’ Be helpful but allow everyone to browse a property on their own time. Greet every guest with a smile. Let them know you’re available to answer any questions.

You may want to ask for feedback, when appropriate, on what they liked or didn’t like, if they’ve been to other open houses in the area, and what they thought about the price of what the property offers.