Check the date you've chosen against local and national events (don't be the non-football fan agent who held her first open house on Superbowl Sunday)
Check the date with the homeowner
Invite your loan officer to attend
Serving snacks/drinks? Determine what you'll offer and make a shopping list
Create postcard invitations for neighbors
Create branded handout packets (your business card, property flyers, door hangers floor plan drawing, neighborhood information, list of updates and repairs for the home, etc.)
Create a sign-in sheet or download an open house app (AM Open House or Open Home Pro apps are popular)
Ensure you have enough directional signs
Post the open house on your MLS and Zillow and announce it at the sales meeting
Promote the open house on social media with a link to the property flyer (hosted on your website).
Consider live streaming the event on Facebook Live (learn more about this at dotloop.com)
3 to 4 Days Before:
Install an "Open House this Weekend" sign rider to the property's for sale sign
Confirm with your lender that he or she will be there
Check in with your clients; remind them what they need to do to prepare the home (clean, remove sensitive paperwork, prescription drugs, weapons and valuables)
Map out where you'll place directional signs
Keep promoting on social media (is there a neighborhood group on Facebook? If so, don't neglect advertising the open house to that group)
24 Hours Before:
Remind your clients about the open house and what they need to do to prepare
Prepare snacks
Load the car with directional signs
Double down on social media mentions of the open house
The Day of the Open House:
Plan on arriving at your listing at least 30 minutes to one hour before the open house is set to begin
Pick up balloons, if you'll be using them
Set up directional signs and balloons
Set up open house sign in front of the home
Prepare a table near the front door for guests to sign in
Set up snack station
Set out handout packets
Tour the home to ensure that beds are made, toilet seats are down and that the home is generally neat and tidy
Ensure that the homeowners removed valuables, weapons, paperwork and prescription drugs
Open all curtains, drapes and blinds
Turn on lights in all rooms and closets
Use any "down time" to get familiar with other listings in the area that open house attendees may be interested in