Open House Prep Checklist

Before you arrive

• Confirm the seller knows the event time, sign placement plan, and expectations for how the home should be left before the open house.
• Review all key property facts including square footage, room count, HOA details, roof age, AC age, water heater age, recent updates, and any required disclosures.
• Check weather, traffic, and local events so you can plan arrival time and visitor flow realistically.

Exterior and arrival setup

• Place open house signs where allowed and make sure they are visible, clean, and easy to follow from the main roads into the neighborhood.
• Walk the front approach and remove any obvious distractions such as bins, debris, loose flyers, or clutter near the entry.
• Make sure the front door area looks inviting and that visitors will not be confused about where to enter.

Inside the home

• Turn on lights, open blinds if appropriate, and set the AC to a comfortable temperature.
• Do a quick final sweep of kitchens, bathrooms, counters, mirrors, and high visibility surfaces.
• Make sure the home smells clean and neutral. Avoid overpowering candles, sprays, or strong food smells.
• Check that music, if used, is subtle and does not interfere with conversation.

Marketing materials

• Bring enough feature sheets, flyers, financing information if relevant, and your business cards.
• Highlight the home’s strongest features in simple language buyers can remember later.
• Have a clear explanation ready for upgrades, neighborhood benefits, ownership costs, and any special property details.

Safety and seller protection

• Confirm medications, jewelry, financial documents, firearms, and small valuables are removed or secured.
• Know which areas, closets, or storage spaces should remain closed if any are off limits.
• Stay aware of visitor flow, especially if multiple groups are touring the home at once.

Lead capture and conversation

• Set up a simple sign in method using paper or a digital form.
• Prepare a warm opening greeting and a few smart questions to learn what each visitor is actually looking for.
• Avoid hovering, but stay available, visible, and ready to answer questions or point out overlooked features.

After the event

• Write down key notes while conversations are fresh, including serious interest level, timeline, and requested follow up.
• Send prompt follow up messages with any promised information, property details, or next step options.
• Review what worked well and what could be improved before your next open house.