9 Fun and Modern Open House Ideas to Close the Deal

If you’re a realtor selling homes, you know how important first impressions are, especially when it comes to an open house. These events are the prospective buyer’s first glance at the home and allow them to evaluate the build while also envisioning how they can make it their own.

In this guide, you’ll find creative ideas for planning an effective open house including themes, activities, and refreshments. Plus, we’ll show you how to create personalized invitations to make the event even better — and ensure your invited guests show up on the big day.

9 Fun & Inviting Open House Ideas

When planning an open house, you’re more likely to have success if you make the event fun and engaging. With these nine creative ideas, guests will remember your open house and have more ways to connect with you if they’re interested in taking the next step.

1. Promote Your Open House on Social Media Platforms

While many savvy buyers use apps like Zillow to schedule house tours, social media is a great place for agents to announce open house events. Real estate marketing experts recommend posting glimpses of your listing on your Instagram stories or pages. This way, buyers can see what the house has to offer for them and they may be more likely to make room in their schedules to attend the full open house.

It’s a good idea to post on several different platforms to reach your target audience. TikTok is a great option if you are targeting a younger buyer while older adults tend to use Facebook more frequently. By posting on several different sites, you’re more likely to reach a large pool of homeowners and potential buyers.

If you’re sending out open house invitations, you can share a screenshot of them on your social pages. Alternatively, you can make digital invites shareable so people can send the invite to friends and family who may be interested as well.

2. Host a Virtual Open House

While most real estate agents host open houses in person, it’s also possible to run these as virtual events to reach a wider audience. One big benefit is that home buyers from out of town or overseas can also participate in a virtual tour, further expanding your potential buyer market. 

Real estate listing agents can also save time by doing video open houses or virtual walk-throughs. Instead of having to go to the property repeatedly, you can go when it’s convenient for your schedule. Then, you can do a live-streaming open house or simply use the recorded open house video to do private showings when convenient for your clients.

For video showings, you can work with a designer to create virtual staging to customize the look of the house for clients. This is a nice way to personalize the process and show buyers how the home would look with their preferred furniture and design.

3. Plan a Raffle or Giveaway

Partner with local businesses, restaurants, and retailers to host a raffle. The goal of an open house is to get the contact information of interested buyers so you can continue the conversion and see how you can get them into their dream home. This is easier than ever with an open house raffle. 

Simply have guests provide their contact info to enter the raffle. You can do this with a paper sign-in sheet or an app that collects their information using a QR code. Randomly choose a winner and award them with a prize like a gift card or home decor item. After the open house, use the sign-up sheet to contact potential buyers and offer your services or follow up on their interest in the house.

4. Host a How-To Demonstration

Invite a local contractor, interior designer, or tradesperson to present a how-to demonstration on how to design a specific room, how to do easy DIY remodels, or tips for evaluating the quality of the build. These demonstrations offer incredible value to potential buyers and they can also connect them to people in your industry. They’ll appreciate your recommendation and also be more likely to recommend your realty services to other potential clients.

5. Give Out Swag

Everyone loves a little swag and you can offer special gifts without digging too deep into your pockets. Consider handing out fun swag and goodie bags filled with things like personalized pens, water bottles, notebooks, and drink holders. You can also hand out household items like flashlights, storage bags, and tape measures with your information on them so potential clients remember your services and know how to contact you. Don’t forget to slip in your business card or contact information so open house visitors can get a hold of you, even if they don’t use the swag.

6. Invite the Neighborhood

It might seem silly to invite the neighbors since they already have homes in the area, but they can be a great source of information for potential buyers. They can chat with interested individuals and share what they love about the neighborhood or what they wish would be different. They may also know friends and family who are looking to move close by and could send you a referral.

7. Host Special Activities

Help buyers envision what their life in the home may look like by hosting creative activities. You can have a bartender show guests how to whip up specialty craft cocktails in the bar area or set up outdoor games to highlight the benefits of a large yard. A neighborhood scavenger hunt can help buyers get to know the area in a fun way.

8. Make a Fun Real Estate Open House Sign

For young people and new homebuyers, going to an open house can be intimidating. Welcome guests and make them feel comfortable with clear and creative signage. Clearly mark the home with a sign and be sure to add signage to intersections nearby to guide guests to the address. Use friendly wording and a large font so it’s easy for everyone to read.

9. Serve Refreshments

The more time guests spend at an open house, the more likely they are to be interested. Encourage them to stay and mingle by offering refreshments like pastries, finger foods, and small bites. Avoid messy foods like wings or sauces that can cause damage to furniture items and be sure to offer plates, napkins, and trash receptacles for a seamless experience.

3 Stunning and Effective Open House Invitations

Ready to plan your next open house event? You’ll want to send invites out to potential buyers so they know when and where to be. Check out these open house invitation designs that real estate professionals can use to reach out to interested homebuyers. Each one is customizable to fit your home aesthetic or target audience.

1. Open House Frame invitation

Design: Jessica Williams

Plan the best open house ever with this modern and sophisticated design. Gold foil accents add an elegant touch to the classic styling and the large text box leaves room for all the event details — and catchy information like special raffles or demonstrations.

2. Modern House Invitation

Design: Jen Montgomery

Looking for a fun and festive vibe? This geometric invite features a color-blocking style in several trendy hues to ensure guests say yes to attending. Use the text space to add the address of the open house and other key details like your phone number and other contact information.

3. Golden Open House Invitation

Design: Jessica Williams

This open house template is sure to increase foot traffic thanks to its eye-catching design. Shiny gold foil wording instantly captivates readers and the simple envelope keeps things professional. It’s available in five artist-curated hues including blue, black, and gray or you can create your own color scheme using the color wheel tool.

Send Memorable Open House Invitations

In real estate, it’s all about standing out from the crowd. With these creative open house ideas, you’re sure to generate buzz and encourage interest in your properties. 

When you’re ready to invite buyers, head to Greenvelope to pick out digital invitations. Each one is designed by artists from around the globe and you can customize them as you see fit. Choose an elegant design and add a wax seal for listings of multi-million dollar homes or keep it casual with fun, colorful templates that speak to a quirky home. Plus, it’s easy to send reminders and follow-ups to everyone on your contact list so you stay top of mind.