Your advertising tactics for open houses could mean the difference between a packed house and a no-show. Open houses need a lot of preparation, from staging to scheduling and memorizing the house's specifications. All of your planning and hard work won't go to waste with effective open-house marketing.
Here are 10 open house marketing strategies listing agents may utilize to promote their open houses and make them memorable.
1. Display Numerous Signs
Although a yard sign is a no-brainer, have you considered putting printed fliers or brochures promoting your open house in public gathering places in your neighborhood? People who might not otherwise be aware of your performance go around in cafes and community centers.
If the location of your property listing is remote or obscure, be sure to use directing signage. Make sure to post open house signage at main neighborhood entrances and surrounding junctions. Your signs should indicate the quickest approach to the property from a variety of directions.
When you have placed all of your signage, drive past them and follow the route you have planned to ensure that it is obvious to open-house guests.
Keep in mind that an effective visual identity and logo are the cornerstones of signage that stand out and draw in quality leads. The distinctive branding kits and logos that AgentFire designers have produced hundreds of times have helped our clients dominate their local real estate markets. Find out more about our logo and branding alternatives here.
2. Use Paid Social Media Advertisements
Numerous social media platforms include a variety of advertising capabilities as well as comprehensive demographic and geographic filters. These factors have the potential to greatly improve your audience targeting. You can target audiences for your ads on Facebook, for instance, based on city, income, recent life events, interests, and more.
Facebook events are a fantastic, cost-free solution if you're not ready to merely use sponsored advertisements. When someone RSVPs as a VIP to your event, it appears on their Facebook news feed for all of their friends and followers to see. Request that your brokerage invite their network and promote your open house on their Facebook page as well.
3. Email Weekly Updates Regarding New Listings
You should regularly gather client contact information and add those contacts to a dedicated lead pipeline if your current lead-generating approach is effective. Sending frequent email updates will keep potential buyers informed about your open homes. This audience is eager to make the move and is actively hunting for their ideal home.
If their inboxes are packed, make sure to clearly state the open house in the email subject line to prevent them from skimming over your message.
4. Geotag Social Media Posts Referencing The Open House
Do you currently have a following on Instagram (or, in certain situations, Snapchat)? These sites mainly rely on geotagging to categorize posts and share the ones that are most pertinent to a given user. When your postings are geotagged, there is a greatly increased chance that buyers who frequently look for posts in your hyperlocal area will notice them.
If you need to market your open house right before the date, platforms that push new material quickly, like TikTok, are very helpful. Consider going live and giving your audience a brief virtual tour on the day of your open house. Your followers will be informed when you go live and will afterward be made aware of your open house.
Simply make sure the pictures and videos you utilize are of a professional caliber.
5. Collaborate With Local Media
Hyperlocal newspapers are still important even when readers of national print media may be dwindling. Locals learn about the activities of their neighbors and fellow citizens from their neighborhood newspaper or city magazine.
Promote your open homes and offer to write a guest article or two about real events for the newspaper as a regular contributor.
6. Visit Each Door
Many agents have conflicting opinions about knocking on doors. While many communities can benefit from this up-close and personal approach, it isn't always required to strike up a meaningful dialogue with property owners on their porches.
Print a door hanger that is both appealing and informative, and includes branded visuals and obvious contact information. Surprisingly, neighborhood residents are curious about what other nearby homes' interiors look like. Even though these viewers might not be actively searching to buy right now, they could end up being valuable resources for other prospective buyers.
7. Speak With Regional Buyer's Agents
Just like you want to sell your client's home for a dream price, buyer's agents want to find their clients the home of their dreams. Contact these agents by sending an email newsletter, calling them directly, or texting them.
Include your contact information as well as specifics regarding the property, such as the date of the open house and clear instructions. If you can, include high-resolution pictures or a virtual tour. It is simple for buyers' agents to send this information to their buyers when the email is properly prepared and has all the relevant information.
If other real estate brokers have active listings as well, think about working with them to advertise your available properties.
8. Add Information About Your Open House To The MLS
The primary tool used by buyer agents to identify the best houses for their customers is the MLS search.
Other broker websites, online real estate tools, and markets all use data from the MLS. Anywhere your ad appears, the information about your open house should be included.
9. Consult Your Neighbors Prior To Holding An Open House
The neighbors of your client might not be used to the volume of traffic that open houses can bring in. By addressing each neighbor separately, you earn their respect and can help them get ready for crowds. Additionally, if the first encounter goes well, there is a large chance that you will get repeat clients or references from them.
10. Provide An Online Tour Of The Property
A wide variety of businesses provide 3D technology to real estate professionals so they may make immersive tours on a smart device. Here is further information about the software that the most successful real estate brokers currently use.
If the format permits, use and share these 3D/virtual tours on your website and social media channels. Viewers may readily visualize how the area would look if it were redecorated and can examine things they might overlook in person with the help of 3D tours.
11. Create A Landing Page
A landing page is a web page designed specifically to persuade the visitor to take a particular action. Here, we want to let users know about your open house and let them plan a visit.
To collect contacts' information while constructing a landing page, you'll need some kind of lead funnel, like a lead capture form. Your lead capture form should be visually appealing and clearly describe the excellent content website visitors can expect. Poor site design is detrimental to both the property and your real estate company. Make sure you choose a qualified specialist to develop your page, especially one who is familiar with real estate digital marketing.
A clear call to action (CTA) on your landing page should help your readers move along their buyer's journey. To provide information about upcoming open houses, think about requesting their phone number or email address.
12. Construct A "Draw"
A "draw" is a modest gift or complementary item that encourages visitors to your open house to shop around. For instance, you could arrange for a nearby coffee shop to donate free coffee for your open house (as well as free advertisement for them). Other "draws" can include a raffle for prizes or non-alcoholic refreshing drinks.
Final Remarks
Even if a typical open house sign is effective, you'll need to take more initiative if you want to draw in a sizable number of prospective purchasers. These open house suggestions will unquestionably increase attendance at your open house.