An open house checklist agents can run from one record

1. Create one source of truth for the event

The first task is not designing a graphic. It is deciding whether the event is authorized, what it is called, where and when it occurs, who is responsible, and which current property facts can appear. Use this record for the MLS entry, portal display, email, social posts, video, signs, handouts, calendar entries, and follow-up.

“Open house” is not a permanent property fact. Every invitation needs a current date, time, time zone when needed, property identity, and maintained destination. Record who will change scheduled and live placements if the listing status or event plan changes.

2. Plan the event about one week out

A week is a practical planning checkpoint, not a universal rule. Use the runway to clear the seller, property, publishing, sign, staffing, and access decisions that cannot be repaired at the front door. Start later only with an explicit reduced plan.

• Confirm the seller authorizes the date, public hours, promotion, property access, and host plan.
• Check the current listing status and the authorized MLS or brokerage process for adding the event.
• Verify local, association, building, HOA, property, and brokerage rules for signs, guests, parking, access, and materials.
• Choose the primary host, co-host or support role, safety check-in contact, and backup plan.
• Walk the property to plan entry, exit, visitor route, restricted areas, restrooms, lights, climate, and accessibility information.
• Agree with the seller on pets, occupants, valuables, medication, mail, documents, keys, weapons, cameras, alarms, and private items.
• Decide which property documents and facts may be shared and who answers questions outside the public record.
• Choose one maintained property or event page for every link and QR code.
• Define the visitor greeting, any sign-in or notice process, information handling, and follow-up boundaries with the broker.
• Set the seller report format, delivery time, and the types of feedback that will be summarized.

Do not copy another event's checklist without changing the property-specific risks and constraints. A vacant rural property, occupied condo, gated building, multi-level home, and crowded neighborhood event need different access, staffing, sign, and safety decisions.

3. Build one coordinated promotion package

Publish from the event record so the MLS, portal, email, post, video, flyer, and QR code do not disagree. The message needs to answer: what property, when, where the current details live, and what a visitor should do next. Everything else is optional.

Use the open house email templates, social sequence, and event video plans for channel-specific production. The free open house campaign builder can turn the approved property and event inputs into a working sequence.

Review the advertising package, not one asset at a time

For REALTORS®, Article 12 of the 2026 NAR Code of Ethics calls for honest and truthful real estate communications and a true picture in advertising and marketing. Review applicable law, brokerage policy, seller instructions, listing-service rules, fair housing, media rights, and local requirements for the actual event and placements.

• The property, status, price, event date, time, time zone, agent, and brokerage agree everywhere.
• Property descriptions stay factual and do not describe an ideal resident or signal a prohibited preference.
• Photography, video, floor plans, music, logos, fonts, and listing content are authorized for the placements.
• Required identity and notices remain readable after the final social, email, mobile, and print crop.
• Every QR code and link opens a current mobile page with the promised event or property information.
• Scheduled posts and reminders have an owner who can stop them when the event changes.

4. Run the day-before property and safety review

Reconfirm the event with the seller and host before loading the car. The safety plan should be specific to the property and follow brokerage guidance. NAR's current safety resources advise planning for open-house risks with measures such as daylight scheduling, clear entry and exit, a co-host, secured valuables and medication, monitored check-ins, and a final property sweep. Adapt those practices with the responsible broker and local requirements rather than treating a general checklist as the complete plan.

• Reconfirm the listing status, event hours, seller authorization, host, backup, and weather or access plan.
• Walk the route and identify exits, restricted rooms, blind areas, tripping hazards, cameras, alarms, and emergency access.
• Ask the seller to remove or secure valuables, medication, documents, mail, keys, weapons, devices, and sensitive personal items.
• Confirm people and pets will follow the agreed occupancy plan before, during, and after the event.
• Review the brokerage's visitor identification, sign-in, agency disclosure, privacy, data handling, and emergency procedures.
• Share the property, hours, staffing, check-in schedule, and escalation route with the designated safety contact.
• Test locks, codes, alarms, lights, utilities, climate controls, elevators, gates, phones, chargers, and connectivity where authorized.
• Pack and count signs, stands, approved handouts, notices, shoe instructions, writing tools, chargers, and backups.
• Proof the live listing, event page, email, social posts, calendar information, link previews, and QR destination one more time.

5. Pack the kit and set up the property

Use a recurring event bin plus a property-specific folder. The recurring bin reduces missing basics; the folder prevents the wrong address, price, flyer, QR code, disclosure, or seller instruction from arriving at this listing.

Arrival and setup sequence

1. Check in. Tell the designated contact that the host has arrived and confirm the next check-in.
2. Inspect before changing anything. Walk the property, record or report unexpected access, condition, safety, or occupancy issues, and follow the agreed escalation route.
3. Secure the boundary. Confirm restricted areas, private items, windows, exterior gates, alarms, and the visitor route according to the seller and brokerage plan.
4. Prepare the property. Adjust approved lights, window coverings, climate, doors, and presentation without making unapproved alterations.
5. Place permitted signs. Follow the planned route, keep an inventory, and avoid unsafe or unauthorized locations.
6. Build the welcome point. Put required notices, visitor materials, and property information where the host can greet without blocking entry or exit.
7. Test every path. Complete the sign-in flow, QR code, property link, Wi-Fi or cellular backup, phone, charger, and follow-up note process.
8. Take a final walk. View the property as a visitor, confirm the team is ready, and resolve or document any issue before opening.

6. Host with one consistent visitor flow

The host needs a repeatable sequence that respects the visitor, the seller, existing agency relationships, required notices, property security, and the host's own safety. The exact words and requirements vary, so approve the flow with the broker rather than borrowing a pressure script from another market.

• Maintain the planned entry and exit route, staffing positions, check-ins, and visitor process.
• Keep access devices, personal devices, client information, notes, and private property controlled.
• Do not leave one visitor's contact information visible to another visitor.
• Answer from the approved property record; log questions that require confirmation instead of guessing.
• Describe the property and objective information rather than the kind of person who should live there.
• Respect existing representation and follow the broker-approved agency and communication process.
• Capture feedback as attributed notes or clearly labeled themes, not as invented consensus.
• Reset materials, doors, lights, surfaces, and restricted-area controls throughout the event as needed.
• Use the agreed escalation route for unsafe conduct, a property issue, access problem, or medical emergency.

7. Close the event and secure the property

The event does not end when the last scheduled minute passes. Close visitor access, sweep the property, restore the seller's instructions, collect every sign, reconcile materials, and confirm the property is secure before leaving. Use two people for the sweep when the safety plan calls for it.

1. End entry clearly. Stop new arrivals according to the event plan and complete the final visitor departure.
2. Sweep the full property. Check every accessible room, closet, exterior area, and exit included in the safety plan.
3. Inspect for changes. Note damage, missing items, open windows or doors, spills, moved objects, or other concerns and follow the escalation process.
4. Restore the agreed condition. Return lights, climate, coverings, doors, gates, alarms, and access devices as instructed.
5. Collect wayfinding. Retrieve every directional sign, stand, weight, flyer, and temporary notice using the inventory.
6. Secure visitor information. Remove paper and devices from public view and transfer records only through the approved system.
7. Confirm lock-up. Complete the final lock, alarm, access, and check-out record with the designated contact.
8. Record incidents and promises. Separate safety or property issues, visitor questions, and follow-up commitments for the appropriate owner.

8. Follow up, report, and retire the event campaign

Use the contact permission, agency context, question, and preferred route actually recorded. A visitor log is not automatic permission for every future marketing list. Apply the brokerage's privacy, consent, recordkeeping, and communication rules, and keep sensitive visitor information out of the seller report.

• Answer each promised property question from a verified source or route it to the responsible person.
• Send only the follow-up that matches the recorded permission, relationship, and communication route.
• Give the seller an evidence-based recap with useful themes, unanswered questions, issues, and next actions.
• Update CRM or transaction records through the approved workflow and restrict access to visitor information.
• Remove or revise expired event language from pages, scheduled posts, Stories, calendars, signs, flyers, QR destinations, and automations.
• Record which promotion sources were actually known rather than assigning every visitor to the last channel clicked.
• Log operational improvements for the next event: missing item, unclear role, failed link, repeated question, or unsafe condition.

The open house email guide includes visitor follow-up and seller recap templates. For a broader listing report, place the event evidence inside the weekly seller update rather than sending disconnected activity numbers without context.

9. Copy or print the master open house checklist

Replace the bracketed fields, delete tasks that do not apply, add the brokerage and property-specific requirements, then assign every remaining line. The site's print view removes navigation so the working checklist can be printed from the browser.

Frequently asked questions