Definition of "Open house"

Just to be clear: an Open house is not when you invite friends over to meet your new house. At least not in the real estate world.

When you hear someone talking about an Open House, they mean an event where the agent or the home seller opens his house so that interested homebuyers walk in and see with their own eyes how awesome that house is.

Oh, so an Open House is that moment in movies when the guy goes to the house and there are fruit platters and cheesy background music?

Yes, but if you are a real estate agent or home seller doing an Open House, please avoid this cliché. An Open House exists to “wow” home buyers and nothing says wow like being creative, innovative and classy. From the invitation, to the welcome sign outside the house and the event itself.

Because image is everything and the first impression matters, agents usually “dress” the house prior to the Open House. They normally:

-   Mow the lawn
-   Clean the bathrooms and the kitchen thoroughly
-   And sometimes even rearrange the furniture in a way that the house looks bigger and brighter

And of course: quality snacks to win clients by their stomach are a must at an Open House.

No wonder agents use the verb “to stage” when talking about the preparation for an open house, right?

Real Estate tip:

Liked the concept? Read our blog article and learn how to Optimize your next open house
.

Don't like the concept? You can try the Virtual Cyber Tours: The New Way to Show Properties.

Know where to find the best real estate agents with the coolest open houses? Look no further; check out The OFFICIAL Real Estate Agent Directory
® !

 

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

English-style home. It is usually 2-stories high. The roof is of a hip type. The chimney is on the side of the home. ...

Agreement by a lender to loan money to suitable borrowers within a given time period but without identifying those borrowers. ...

Legal obligation to pay for a benefit received as if a contract has actually occurred. This may arise in a few cases so that an equitable situation occurs. An example is when a homeowner ...

Additional tax liability that the IRS deems to be owed by a taxpayer. A taxpayer can argue the correctness of a deficiency with the IRS. There can be an appeal to the Tax Court without ...

Considerations used by lenders in appraising a prospective homebuyer' credit application. They are: Character, Capacity (cash Flow), Capital, Collateral and Conditions (economic status) ...

Standard language in real estate contracts and prospectuses-usually in small print. ...

Metal hardware within the construction that is typically not visible, such as bolts, nails, and screws. ...

Capability of a party to enter into a contract such as having the financial and physical resources as well as mental competency to meet contractual commitments. ...

When answering the question of what is a real estate investor, several aspects should be considered. First, a real estate investor, also known as a real estate entrepreneur, allocates ...

Popular Real Estate Questions