The Open House Kit
You do have listings, right? And you do hold open houses for your listings, correct? Of course you do! So do we. That's why we created a handy-dandy little checklist, which we're gladly sharing with you below!
Take some time and put together an open house kit. You’ll need to gather all the supplies you will use frequently and put them into a rolling cart that you can simply pop into your car each weekend. Or you can simply leave the kit in the trunk of your car (and remember to drive the same car to your open houses each week).
Have a ready kit assembled will save you tons of time and make your prep smooth and stress-free. When you’re focused on getting lots of folks to your event, and with the energy you invest into talking to people, the last thing you need to worry about is being ready. So, save yourself some time and put your kit together now. Below is our suggested list, which is also available on our web site, www.HostOpenHouses.com.
Open House Supply Kit
Put all these items into your portable rolling “wheely” cart and keep it in your car (except the signs, which can go into your trunk).
Signs
q 7 “Open House” A-frame signs (sandwich board)
q Black dry erase marker (to write address) or large typed addresses & tape
q Sky flags
q Yard markers
q Balloons w/helium
Brochures & Stands
q Clipboards w/ Open House Guest Log sheets
q Property flyers in stand
q Tri-fold brochures in stand
q Business cards in card holder
q Maps of city
q List of current comps in neighborhood
Prize Drawing Center
q Business card collection box
q Prize drawing entry forms
q Prize drawing flyer
q Pens in a pencil holder
q Prize for drawing (large gift basket or gift certificate)
q Promo give-aways for each guest (such as a pen or notepad)
Cleaning Supplies
q 409 or “green” cleaner, glass cleaner, toilet cleaner
q Small squeezy mop
q Small trash can (use it also as a bucket for the cleaning supplies)
q Hand towel, paper towels, gloves
q Whisk broom & dust pan set
Miscellaneous
q Name badge (your personalized name tag)
q Digital camera (to take photos of property)
q Tape measure (regular or laser)
q Scented candles and matches (or lighter)
q Aroma spray or odor eliminator spray (preferred)
Optional
q Fold-up table, 2 chairs, tablecloths
q CD player w/ soft jazz music on CDs
q Candelabra stand & candles for fireplace
Refreshments
q Food platters -- order & pick up at store
q Plates, napkins, cutlery, cups
q Sodas & water bottles in ice chest w/ice
q Coffee maker, coffee, hot cocoa, & condiments
For the signs, you already have A-frame signs, and a dry-erase marker to write the addresses. To attract attention to your house, I recommend sky flags and yard markers, which are also on our web site www.HostOpenHouses.com. Of course the balloons you’ll need to get inflated at your local grocery store or drugstore.
Get 2 or 3 clipboards and insert a few sheets of the Open House Guest Log on each (you can find the forms on our web site). Clip a pen to each clipboard. You’ll need flyers to advertise the property and hopefully a mortgage loan flyer with sample monthly payments for the new buyer. Advertise yourself with your brochures or pamphlets and business cards.
Most importantly is your Prize Drawing Center – you need a business card box, prize entry forms, and then of course a pencil cup, filled with pens. Keep lots of pens handy, because they will disappear into pockets and purses. If you have give-aways for each guest, put them in the Kit too. I suggest stocking up on value-added items such as pens and notepads.
Cleaning supplies should stay in the trunk of your car at all times, because you never know when you’ll need to wipe up a small spill at a property – before the buyers see it! Of course you’re not a maid and it’s not your job to clean up, but remember that buyers judge by a “first impression”.
Don’t forget your name badge! Maybe you keep it in your car and don’t need to put it in your kit. Other miscellaneous items include a digital camera and a tape measure, which you probably already keep in your car anyway. To get rid of smelly pet scents and other foul odors, pack odor eliminator spray or aroma spray. Scented candles are also helpful for this purpose.
Optional items include a fold-up table (or 2 TV trays), 2 fold-up chairs, and a table cloth to cover the table. If you have an extra CD player, bring it in the house and play soft jazz music (we’ve got some album suggestions on our web site). And for those lovely homes with a fireplace, I suggest inserting a candelabra stand with candles. It gives the home a wonderful, homey atmosphere without all the ashes (and smoke) of burning a log.
You will pick up the refreshments at the grocery store on the way to your open house. So keep the plates, napkins, cups, and cutlery in your Kit. Also you can keep your ice chest in the trunk of your car, ready to fill with water bottles and ice cubes. If you plan to brew coffee, which many guests enjoy on a cold day, consider taking your coffee maker since there may not be one at the house. Condiments include sugar, creamer, and stirrers. Don’t forget packets of hot cocoa for the kids! (You can brew hot water in the coffee maker, or simply microwave it.)
Regina P. Brown
Realtor, Author, and Open House Enthusiast
