How Do I Prepare for an Open House?

Nearly half of surveyed buyers say they used open houses during their search. That does not mean an open house will produce an offer on your home. It is one way to let people see the property, gather reactions, and make a listing easier to visit. (NAR)

Preparing well means more than cleaning the kitchen. I’ll explain what the numbers do and do not tell you, how to prepare the house, and what to secure before visitors arrive. The goal is a useful event, not a packed room at any cost.

Know what an open house can accomplish

NAR’s 2025 report says 49% of buyers used open houses as an information source during their search. A separate survey cited by Cash Flow Deals says 48% used open houses, and 43% of those buyers rated them very useful. These are measures of use and perceived usefulness, not the likelihood that a visitor will buy your home. (NAR) (Cash Flow Deals)

The figures are close, but the surveys cover different periods. NAR’s report data generally covers the 12 months ending June 2024, while the other survey covers buyers who purchased between July 2024 and June 2025. Keep the dates and definitions attached to the percentages. (NAR) (Cash Flow Deals)

Discovery still happens mostly elsewhere. In the survey cited by Cash Flow Deals, 52% of buyers found the home they bought on the internet, 27% found it through an agent, and 5% through a yard sign or open-house sign. NAR’s report says 3% of buyers began their search by visiting open houses. An open house is one part of a marketing plan, not a substitute for accurate online information and a sound price. (Cash Flow Deals) (NAR)

There can be another use: seeing how visitors react to the price and the home’s condition. Treat comments as information, not a verdict. One quiet afternoon does not prove the price is wrong, but repeated concerns deserve a closer look.

Set expectations and timing before the event

Decide with your agent what a useful result looks like before the doors open. It might be thoughtful feedback, questions about a particular feature, or a visitor asking for a private showing. Do not make the number of people through the door the only measure of success. One article advises: “Agree with the seller in advance, on paper, on what a good outcome looks like: groups through the door, feedback themes, and whether an offer is a realistic target for this listing at this price.” (OpenHouse)

Set a date early enough to promote it, and discuss whether the first week on the market makes sense for your property. Cash Flow Deals recommends: “Set your open house date before you list, and make it an early one.” That is a planning suggestion, not a promise that an early event will bring an offer. (Cash Flow Deals)

Ask how the event will be publicized, who will be present, how visitors will be managed, and what feedback you will receive afterward. If attendance is light or no one follows up, agree in advance on the next step. The article also advises sellers to decide what they will do if few buyers come and nobody follows up. (Cash Flow Deals)

Review comparable listings and recent buyer responses with your agent before deciding whether the price or presentation needs attention. Visitor reactions are one source of information. They are not a replacement for comparing your home with competing properties.

Prepare the house, not just the front room

Start with the work buyers will notice as they move through the property. Clear counters and walkways. Put away excess furniture and personal items. Clean the rooms, windows, carpets, trim, and spaces that are easy to overlook in a routine tidy-up. Redfin recommends deep cleaning spaces visitors might see, including closets, under beds, and behind appliances. (Redfin)

As Redfin puts it: “Before an open house, commit to deep cleaning every space that may potentially be seen by guests, including closets, spaces under beds, and behind appliances.” This is a practical reminder to check beyond the rooms you see every day. (Redfin)

Fix small, visible problems if you can. Replace burnt-out bulbs, address a dripping faucet, and arrange furniture so people can move comfortably from room to room. Chase recommends checking the room-to-room flow and making adjustments where movement feels congested. (Chase)

Give the entrance and exterior a final check. Sweep the walkway, clear the entry, and make sure the front door opens easily. Air out cooking or pet odors rather than trying to cover them with a strong scent. Redfin’s article warns: “One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is staying during the open house or leaving behind cooking and pet odors, which can hurt the home’s appeal.” (Redfin)

Decide what should remain visible and what should be packed away. A home can feel lived in without displaying family photos, mail, paperwork, or personal information. NAR reports that agents used open houses to market 58% of sellers’ homes. That shows the method is familiar, but it does not make privacy precautions optional. (NAR)

Protect belongings and personal information

Before visitors arrive, remove valuables, prescription medication, financial documents, mail, and anything that reveals account numbers or personal details. Lock away items you cannot take with you. Check less obvious places, such as bedside tables, desk drawers, and bathroom cabinets. The Operative Group states: “Sellers are told to hide valuables, secure medication, remove personal documents, put away financial information, and protect family privacy for a reason.” (The Operative Group)

Ask your agent how visitors will be supervised and whether sign-in or other screening steps will be used. Ask how the agent will handle people who arrive without an appointment and how they will keep track of visitors in the home. The Operative Group suggests asking: “How will visitors be screened? Will we know who is preapproved? Will we know who is represented? Will we know who is actually interested in this specific home?” Agree on a process that suits your situation before the event. (The Operative Group)

Put away family photos and documents that expose names, schedules, school information, or other personal details. Do not assume visitors will know which rooms or belongings are off limits. Keep the instructions clear and practical.

Use the feedback after the doors close

Leave during the event if you can. Visitors may be more comfortable looking around and asking questions when the seller is not present. Make a plan for children and pets, and take personal items with you rather than leaving them in a bedroom or another accessible place. Afterward, check the home and confirm that doors and windows are secured.

Ask for written feedback. A written record makes it easier to see whether several visitors noticed the same issue, such as a room feeling crowded or a feature not being clear. OpenHouse advises: “Written feedback beats a phone call you both half remember, and an open house feedback form gives you the raw material for it.” (OpenHouse)

Use the feedback alongside online activity, private-showing requests, and competing homes. NAR’s 2025 report says 43% of homes in its data sold within two weeks, while the median time on market was four weeks. The same report compares homes sold within two weeks at a median 100% of list price with homes on the market 17 weeks or more at 94%. These are broad market figures, not a forecast for your property and not proof that an open house caused a sale. (Cash Flow Deals)

If attendance is light, consider the full picture before changing the price. Compare feedback with online activity, private-showing requests, the condition of the home, and current competing listings. Then decide with your agent whether the next step is a change in presentation, marketing, timing, or price.

Frequently asked questions

The takeaway

Before you clean or set a date, agree with your agent on the event’s purpose, the visitor-supervision plan, and what you will do with the feedback afterward. That gives you a useful standard for deciding whether the open house helped.