• Make sure the propery is clean and uncluttered.
• Secure valuables, medications and paperwork such as credit card statements.
• Enjoy doing something fun off site during the open house.

For you:

• Put the open house into the MLS so it feeds to consumer websites.
• Post the open house on Craigslist, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.
• Ask the sellers if they'd like to share the open house on their social media.
• Use plenty of signage.
• Consider sending an e-flyer to the realtors in your area.
• Consider dropping invites in the neighborhood.
• Preview other nearby listings.

I always bring bottled water and snacks for visitors if okay with the sellers.

Three areas they need to focus on:

1. Preparing the home physically (Clean, updates, and repairs).
2. Security.  Secure valuables, drugs, and personal data.
3. Review feedback from buyers and other agents to see what you need to do to sell (lower price or make alterations/repairs).

Really don't know your area...but be safe! Make sure you have someone from your office check on you during and after the open house. Agree with the other comments about locking up valuables and medications. Good luck! Hope it brings you a Buyer!

For the sellers...CLEAN,CLEAN,CLEAN.  finger prints on mirrors is always a downer.

Also, to declutter as much as possible, but that should go with the listing agreement.

Guin - As said before, make the open house known in as many places as possible; MLS, Craigslist, Facebook, etc and use all the signs that you have (within local laws).  Remember that you are on stage, so once it begins you need to block out other things and concentrate on the people... think of a good bartender you might know.

You have already received good tips from others. Good luck.

You have received some outstanding advice. Good luck with your open houses.

Remind yourself to put personal safety first when you hold open houses. 

Make certain home is spotless, all valuables and prescription drugs and firearms put away, stay away from the house until at least 30 minutes after the OH ends.

I would hand them a check list of what to do to prepare the home for sale and another list for day of the open house to.

What Cindy Davis said, as well as prescription drugs;  as far as making it a success, have them spread the word, as well as advertising it online through whatever means you typically use to promote your listings.  Signs, as long as they are not violating any local or HOA guidelines, often draw a lot of traffic, if you are in a good area for them.  And, yes, what Debbie Gartner said, make sure the house is spotless, pets and family are away, outside looks a good as the inside and if there has been snow/ice, be sure the sidewalks and steps are clean and clear of any slick spots. 

Remind your sellers to lock up or remove any valuables, i.e. jewelry, cash, desk drawers.

Well for sure, I would make sure they make sure the place is spotless and that they aren't there.  You might want to have them send notes to the neighbors and their friends and/or post on their FB page.

Secure your valuables, then follow the plan.

Market online and on Facebook.

Good marketing from ListingsToLeads.

Tell them to keep their expensive belongings safe. Good suggestions here.

Make sure they leave.

That you are more likely to get new clients than the Open House selling their listing...

Lots of good solid advice, however, make sure you have adequate assistance and ensure they know what invaluable features of the listing is unique and extol the benefits of those features. Start with quality, maintenance free, lifetime benefits and values converted into dollars saved but can be used to upgrade kitchen, baths, flooring or outdoor living concepts. Finally, ask every prospect to make an offer. So many agents show and tell but never ask to close.

Homescenes...thank you for the reminder. I use a text call but may try yours.

I enjoy reading the posts and suggestions to see how agents from all over the country handle open houses.  I would add don't forget to give a recap to your sellers about visitors and all the steps you took to prepare for the day.

Have good signage in the area, and invite the neighbors to stop by!

If you have a lender you work closely with, let them know of your open house. They just might like to drum up some business and get someone pre-qualified on the spot. They can counsel potential buyers for purchasing. I had an open house and a lender team was present also. It was such a good open house, they pre-qualified 3 buyers and I had got them into buyer's rep agreements. Best open house I ever had. Had extra for security with the open house, 3 buyers  who purchased by the end of the year about 5 months and yes we sold the house. I only served water nothing with chocolate or food coloring or sticky. can be a mess. The open house was suppose to be from 2-5 but people were waiting at 130 and i was there til after 6. Good kind of tired. I had many directional signs. Other agents said I had too many. Is 8 too many when you sell a house for over $200000 and 3 more by the end of the year? That was just a really good one. Just take heed to what everyone has said. Consider all issues especiallly the safety issues if you are the only one to be there. Like I stated I've had couple really good ones the last ones not so good. If you have a license to carry do so. Never let your guard down. Not trying to scare you, just keep your personal safety in mind and check! Good Luck on your open house!

Your Open House can work in concert with your lead generator sign rider displayed on your real estate company for sale sign! Why not capture home buyer contact information 24/7 and allow prospective home buyers to view ALL of your property photos right from their cell phone??? The HomeScenes.com Lead Generator sign rider is different and is so affordable and works in concert with your HomeScenes.com virtual tour! It is by design that Home Buyers nationwide do NOT feel ambushed by agents who choose HomeScenes.com Buyer Alert sign riders... often home buyers are expecting the listing agent's call! Our Listing Agents receive a Free Buyer Alert instantly via text and email as soon as an interested party clicks "show me the tour" on their cell phone. You too can receive FREE Buyer Alerts 24/7!

Test Drive our Free Buyer Alert System... from your Internet accessible cell phone, go to HomeScenes.com, next enter 67345, next enter your name, email address & phone number. Next Click "Show Me The Tour"... instantly you will be able to view every image in our "training" tour. 

Also, your HomeScenes.com virtual tour can be emailed to all guests who attend your open house, at NO cost. As always be safe while having an open house and bring another agent with you if you can.

For Free Coaching and/or more information - 877-594-1193, Option 1 or Help@homescenes.net

Hi Guin - you have received excellent advice.  Proper preparation goes a long way along with setting the expectations.  Some areas are more receptive to open houses(mine typically is) but for others they are not well-attended.  

If the open house is scheduled to end at a certain time -- make sure they are not waiting to get back into their home --- I like time to make sure all visitors have left, lights turned off, doors locked, etc.  Nothing worse than the car pulling into the driveway with Mom, Dad, the kids and pets standing outside.

Guin, my best advice is lots of directional signs at corners and main highways, flags out front and someone to accompany you for safety, always make the visitors sign in prior to viewing.  Asking the neighbors if you can place directionals is the best way to meet the neighbors and give out your card. They will appreciate being asked and might list with you or recommend you in future.

I usually offer something to eat as I am the one who gets hungry toward the end of the open house :)

Remind the sellers you are working, so please ask them to stay away.

Last weekend my seller walked in just in time to hear someone say he had no sense of style. Uggg!

Ask them to make sure the house is clean and neat and valuables are secured.

Tell then you will have a sign in sheet and will follow up.

Sometimes they will get a buyer from the house but it may take a while.

Prepare the sellers that there may or may not be a good turn out. 

I should add that it's important for the agent to check all windows and doors before you leave to make sure they're locked.  

Occasionally, a visitor will come in and innocently unlock a door or window. Others who do this may have bad intentions.  It's better to be safe than sorry.