Open House Checklist for Real Estate Agents

Plan the Open House

Start about one week before the open house by confirming the event details, access, and property information. This phase establishes the foundation for everything that follows, including seller instructions and team coordination.

• Confirm the date, time, seller or listing-agent instructions, property access, alarm, keys, and lockbox details.
• Verify the property facts, disclosures, online event information, parking guidance, and applicable sign-placement rules.
• Assign responsibilities and prepare the property information visitors may request.

Prepare Your Materials

Two days before the event, reconfirm details and assemble your check-in and signage materials. Preparing now keeps the morning of the open house calm and predictable, and an appropriate paper backup safeguards against a device or connectivity issue.

• Charge devices and test the listing link, QR code, and digital check-in workflow.
• Gather signs, flyers or digital property links, chargers, business cards, supplies, and an appropriate paper backup.
• Reconfirm access, weather considerations, pets, seller-designated valuables, medications, sensitive documents, and restricted areas.

Keep an appropriate paper backup available in case the selected check-in method becomes unavailable.

Set Up the Property and Check-In

The morning of the open house, arrive early to walk through the property and set up a welcoming, private check-in station. Follow seller instructions for the space, secure restricted areas, and confirm your visitor check-in is tested and ready. For a deeper look at how digital check-in works and what to collect, see our guide to open house sign-in apps.

• Arrive early, walk through the property, address obvious hazards, and follow seller instructions for lights, blinds, temperature, and interior doors.
• Confirm restricted areas, entrances, exits, restroom availability, and that seller-designated valuables and sensitive items are secured.
• Place directional signs and set up a visible, private check-in station with a tested tablet or QR code and clear communication-preference choices.

“Welcome! You can check in using the tablet or scan the QR code with your phone. Please choose the communication option that fits your preference.”

Do not require marketing consent as a condition of entering the property. Offer a no-further-follow-up option and honor it.

Host the Open House

During the open house, be present and attentive while giving visitors space to explore. Welcome everyone, briefly explain check-in options, and keep visitor information private throughout.

• Welcome visitors, briefly explain the check-in options, and remain available for questions without pressuring them.
• Record factual requests and notes, respect visitors who already have an agent, and keep visitor information private.
• Monitor property access, restricted areas, signs, and the availability of the check-in device and QR code.

Close and Secure the Property

Close out the event deliberately by walking the property, collecting materials, and resetting the space per seller instructions. Secure doors, windows, and alarm systems before you leave.

• Confirm all visitors have left, walk through every accessible room, and document any property issue requiring attention.
• Collect signs and supplies, remove temporary materials, and reset lights, blinds, temperature, and interior doors as instructed.
• Secure doors and windows, re-arm the alarm if instructed, return keys or lockbox access, and notify the seller or listing agent that the event has ended.

Follow Up and Report

Next-day follow-up turns visitor records into meaningful action while keeping automated email separate from personal outreach. Prepare an accurate, aggregate seller report without individual contact information, and confirm team follow-up responsibilities. For ready-to-adapt message examples, see our open house follow-up email templates.

• Review visitor records, submitted requests, and communication preferences while keeping automated email separate from personal follow-up.
• Respond to eligible visitors and explicit information requests, respect existing agency relationships, and honor no-further-follow-up and unsubscribe choices.
• Prepare an accurate, aggregate seller report without visitor names, contact information, or individual private responses, and confirm any team follow-up responsibilities.

In Open House Ally, the initial property-information email may be sent as part of the check-in workflow. Subsequent automated email is suppressed for visitors requesting no further follow-up, and unsubscribe requests suppress future applicable automated email. Automated email does not count as personal agent follow-up. AllyScore organizes visitor responses into categories based on their submitted answers; it does not verify intent, readiness, financial qualifications, or likelihood of purchase.