On weekends across Clearwater, Florida, many real estate agents are busy hosting an open house, an essential component of the home-buying process. These events allow prospective buyers to tour a property without scheduling a private appointment. They create a low-pressure environment that encourages exploration and interest.
While open houses can be highly effective, their success ultimately depends on the agent’s understanding of the strategy behind them. It also relies on the atmosphere they create to motivate buyers to act.
In this guide, we break down the percentage of homes that typically sell through an open house. Additionally, we will explore how your sellers can properly prepare their homes to maximize results.
What Percentage of Homes Sell from an Open House?
Understanding the percentage of buyers who ultimately submit an offer after attending an open house is essential for setting expectations with your sellers. In this guide, we outline the actual statistics behind how many homes sell as a result of an open house. Moreover, we will discuss how to maximize the impact of each event for your business.
Establishing clear expectations reinforces transparency and helps reassure your sellers that you are executing a strategic, data-driven marketing plan. A well-informed seller is a more confident seller, and the professionalism you demonstrate begins with understanding these numbers yourself.
Are Open Houses Effective in Selling a House?
Open houses remain an effective strategy because they generate meaningful buyer activity in a condensed timeframe. They often attract prospective buyers who may not yet be ready to schedule a private showing. When multiple parties tour the home simultaneously, it creates a sense of urgency and competition, which can lead to offers.
These events also provide buyers with a low-pressure environment to explore the property. They can envision their lifestyle within the space and determine whether it warrants a return visit. While an open house does not guarantee a sale, it increases visibility and buyer engagement, converting casual interest into serious offers.
What Is the Percentage of Home Sales from Open Houses?
According to the National Association of Realtors, approximately 4% of home sales originate from open houses and open house signage. Still, it’s crucial to acknowledge that most buyers, approximately 51% to be more specific, discover homes through real estate websites or social media. Nonetheless, open houses still play a significant role in property marketing.
They increase exposure, attract unrepresented buyers, and create valuable face-to-face opportunities that digital channels cannot replicate. For agents, they remain an essential tool for generating interest, building relationships, and strengthening market presence.
To learn more about offer timelines and what to expect after hosting an open house, explore our guide, “How Long After an Open House Do Offers Come In?”
What Is the Purpose of an Open House?
Attract more buyer traffic.
Open houses create a low-friction opportunity for potential buyers to tour a property without arranging a private showing, thereby increasing visitor turnout. This is particularly valuable for unrepresented buyers. These are individuals who have not yet aligned with an agent but are actively exploring the real estate market.
By lowering the barrier to entry, open houses drive higher foot traffic and expand the pool of qualified prospects. When executed strategically, through targeted marketing, well-placed open house signs, and an event-style approach, they can generate substantial interest. Moreover, they significantly increase the likelihood of receiving offers.
Showcase the home’s best features.
During a standard showing, the listing agent is rarely present. Buyers tour the property with their own agent, experiencing the home exactly as the seller left it. An open house, however, gives agents complete control over the presentation.
You can curate the lighting, refine the scent profile, and create a cohesive atmosphere that highlights the property’s strongest features. In essence, an open house allows you to showcase the home at its best. You have the authority to elevate the buyer experience and increase the likelihood of meaningful interest.
Create a sense of urgency.
When multiple prospective buyers walk through an open house simultaneously, it creates a natural sense of competition. Visitors can clearly see that others are evaluating the property and may be preparing to submit an offer.
This dynamic often motivates serious buyers to act quickly. And, in many cases, write stronger, more competitive offers than they might after a private showing.
Build awareness in the neighborhood.
Neighbors are naturally curious, and an open house becomes a conversation starter within the community. When residents see a steady flow of prospective buyers touring a nearby home, it signals that market conditions may be favorable for them. As a result, they may begin considering a sale themselves—often approaching the agent hosting the open house.
For listing agents, this creates a valuable opportunity to expand their network and position yourself as the neighborhood’s trusted real estate resource.
Strengthen the seller’s confidence in the marketing plan.
For many sellers, a quiet listing can create the impression that little progress is being made. Even when you’re executing a strategic marketing plan behind the scenes, much of that work may not be visible to them.
Hosting an open house provides a tangible demonstration of your efforts. It reassures sellers that you are actively promoting their property to attract qualified buyers while taking steps to generate interest. This visibility not only builds trust but also reinforces confidence in your overall marketing plan.
For more information, visit our guide: “Marketing for Realtors: The Secret Formula Top Agents Use to Stay Booked All Year Long!”
Generate new leads for agents.
Open houses are also powerful networking opportunities for real estate agents. Even if a visitor isn’t the ideal buyer for that particular property, they may still need representation. This could be to purchase another home, list their current residence, or seek guidance when they’re ready to enter the market.
Every attendee is a potential future client. Ultimately, open houses position you to build meaningful relationships that expand your long-term business.
To strengthen your prospecting skills and expand your client base, explore our comprehensive guide, “Real Estate Lead Generation Ideas.” It offers proven strategies to help you build stronger networks and attract high-quality leads with confidence.
How to Prepare for an Open House as a Seller
Clean and declutter every room.
Before hosting an open house, it is essential to thoroughly clean and declutter the property. Encourage your sellers to invest in a professional cleaning service and explain the impact this preparation has on buyer perception.
Clear countertops, organized spaces, and a spotless environment create an immediate positive impression. And in real estate, first impressions directly influence interest, showings, and offer quality.
Depersonalize the space.
When prospective buyers tour a property, their goal is to envision it as their future home. Personal photographs, vacation souvenirs, and religious items can unintentionally create a barrier, making it harder to form that emotional connection.
This is why professional staging is a widely recommended strategy. By removing personal items, neutralizing the space, and thoughtfully arranging furniture, you create a clean canvas that appeals to a broader audience.
The impact is significant. According to the NAR, 83% of buyers find it easier to imagine themselves in a staged home. Staging also contributes to as much as a 10% increase in perceived property value.
Remove pets and pet items.
Your sellers may adore their pets, but buyers often view them differently. For many, signs of a pet, especially in homes with carpeting, can raise concerns about odors, allergens, or long-term wear. In some cases, evidence of pets can reduce perceived property value by as much as $30,000.
To protect your sellers’ position and maximize buyer interest, advise them to remove all visible pet traces before an open house. This includes bedding, bowls, toys, litter boxes, crates, and even photographs. A clean, neutral environment helps ensure buyers focus on the home’s features—not its four-legged residents.
Maximize light and airflow.
Natural light is one of the most desirable features for today’s buyers. Encourage your sellers to open all blinds and curtains and switch on accent lighting. This ensures every room feels bright and inviting. Light sells homes, and a well-lit property shows significantly better.
Comfort is equally important. Remind sellers to set the air conditioning to a cool, refreshing temperature, especially during Clearwater’s warmer months. A bright, comfortable environment helps buyers stay longer, engage more deeply with the home, and envision themselves living there.
Leave the home during the open house.
A seller’s presence during an open house can unintentionally create tension for prospective buyers. While selling a home is an emotional process, having the homeowner on-site often makes visitors hesitant to speak openly or fully explore the property.
Provide your sellers with the scheduled open house hours and request that they leave the home during that time. This gives buyers the freedom to discuss the home candidly, move through the space, and form a genuine connection with the property. Creating a comfortable, pressure-free environment is essential for generating strong interest and encouraging qualified offers.
Sell more homes in Clearwater, Florida, and keep 100% of your commission with Charles Rutenberg Realty.
Although only a small percentage of homes sell directly from open houses, they remain a highly valuable component of a real estate agent’s strategy. They expand your network, increase visibility for your listings, and demonstrate to sellers that you are actively marketing their property.
Now imagine doing all of this with elevated professional support, while keeping more of what you earn. At Charles Rutenberg Realty, you can. As a 100% commission brokerage, we provide unmatched resources to help our agents thrive. This includes comprehensive training, administrative support, and proven systems designed to accelerate your growth.
Schedule a call today to learn whether Charles Rutenberg Realty is the right next step for your real estate career.