Before you start

• •Sign-in sheet (digital app or paper)
• •Open house signs + balloons
• •Property flyer printed
• •Mortgage calculator or QR code to one
• •Security plan: agent's car nearby, phone charged

The procedure

Step-by-step, in order. Each step has the action and the reason it matters.

1. 1

   Arrive 1 hour before start

   Park around the corner so visitors don't see your car blocking the driveway. Walk the property — note anything the seller left out, anything broken since last visit.

2. 2

   Place signs and direction arrows

   Main 'Open House' sign at the property. Directional arrows at the nearest two cross streets, minimum. More if the area is hard to find.

3. 3

   Stage the entry

   Sign-in sheet at a small table by the front door. Property flyer next to it. Pen that works. Any seller-provided info materials in the same spot.

4. 4

   Open every door and turn on every light

   Every interior door open. Every light on (yes, even daytime). Every blind up. Buyers form their first impression in 30 seconds and dark rooms feel small.

5. 5

   Greet every visitor at the door

   Stand at or near the entry. Greet each person by name (ask for it). Hand them the flyer. Ask them to sign in for security and for follow-up. Most won't refuse if framed as security.

   Why: Sign-in sheets are the entire ROI of open houses. Without contact info, the open house is an expensive marketing event with no lead capture.

6. 6

   Walk them to the kitchen first

   Don't follow them through the house. Point them to the kitchen and let them explore at their own pace. Be available for questions.

7. 7

   Note buyer signals

   Watching the kitchen for 10+ minutes? They're imagining cooking there. Asking about taxes or commute? They're serious. Photographing rooms? Very serious. Mental notes go into the CRM after they leave.

8. 8

   Close the house safely

   Walk every room. Confirm no one's left in the house (it has happened). Lock every door and window. Reset the lockbox. Take signs down.

9. 9

   Same-day follow-up to every signed-in visitor

   Within 4 hours of close, send a personalized text or email to every sign-in. Reference one specific thing from the conversation (kitchen layout, school district, the deck). Don't blast a generic 'thanks for visiting.'

Verify when done

• ☐Every visitor signed in
• ☐Property closed safely with no lingering visitors
• ☐Same-day follow-up sent to every signed-in lead
• ☐Signs collected and stored

Common mistakes

• ✕Not asking visitors to sign in (lost leads forever)
• ✕Following visitors through the house (creeps them out)
• ✕Skipping the same-day follow-up
• ✕Leaving signs out overnight

Trainer notes

The same-day follow-up is the difference between an open house that generated leads and one that generated visitors. Most agents skip it because they're tired. Set a phone alarm before the open house for 4 hours later.

Common questions