What Is A Broker Caravan? Hosting An Open House For Real Estate Agents
A broker caravan, also known as an open house for real estate agents, is a long-standing real estate tradition that still holds major value in 2025. It’s not open to the public—instead, it's an exclusive opportunity for real estate professionals to preview listings, give early feedback, and network face-to-face with other agents. Whether you're a new agent or a seasoned pro, knowing how to navigate, host, and leverage a broker caravan can directly impact your ability to price, market, and sell a home quickly.

Written by Seth Cox
May 20, 2025 / Broker Open House
Unlike traditional open houses aimed at buyers, broker caravans are private events where real estate agents preview new listings before they go wide. These tours help agents determine if a property is a good match for their clients, provide professional feedback to the listing agent, and spark early interest—all without the pressure of public showings.
Whether you’re an experienced agent looking to maximize exposure or a new Realtor learning how to market listings effectively, this guide will help you turn your next broker open house into a powerful lead-generating event.

What Is a Broker Caravan?
Unlike public open houses that target buyers, broker caravans focus on creating early buzz among professionals. Listing agents open their properties to other agents, who walk through, ask questions, provide feedback, and evaluate whether the home is a match for their current clients.
Key Features of a Broker Caravan
- Audience: Only real estate professionals (not the general public)
- Timing: Usually midweek mornings or early afternoons
- Format: Single listing or a multi-stop tour across several homes
- Goal: Maximize early exposure and collect feedback from peers
These events are especially common in competitive markets, with high-end or newly listed homes, and in areas with well-organized broker networks. They’re not just a marketing tool—they’re a strategic move to tap into the agent community and accelerate interest before buyers even step foot inside.
🧠 Did You Know? Some broker caravans lead to buyer showings the same day—especially when agents attend with clients already in mind.

Why Broker Caravans Matter in 2025
1. Agents Still Drive the Majority of Buyer Decisions
2. Real-Time Market Feedback Is Invaluable
3. Local Networking Builds Long-Term Success
According to the National Association of Realtors, 89% of buyers purchase through an agent or broker. Broker-to-broker marketing still matters.
In 2025, where trust, speed, and early momentum are everything, broker caravans remain a smart, strategic move for serious listing agents.

Types of Broker Caravans
Office-Sponsored Broker Caravans
- Great for building energy and referrals inside your office
- Easy to set up—just block a time and invite your colleagues
- Perfect for newer agents to learn what makes a good listing pop
- No need to dress up your listing like a Ritz-Carlton suite (unless you want to)
Regional MLS Broker Tours
- Attracts agents from multiple brokerages in the region
- Scheduled weekly or bi-weekly, so you can plan ahead
- A great way to make a strong first impression during launch week
- Don’t be surprised if you hear some brutally honest feedback—agents don’t hold back
Luxury and Virtual Broker Caravans
- Luxury caravans often include gourmet catering, branded gifts, or live music (yes, really)
- They’re perfect for impressing agents who work with high-net-worth buyers
- Virtual tours are great for cross-market exposure or relocation clients
- Bonus: No one can see your messy car if you’re hosting online
Key Benefits of Hosting a Broker Caravan
Hosting a broker caravan—also known as a broker open house or real estate agent tour—is one of the smartest ways to build early momentum for your listing. It’s your chance to get a property in front of motivated, well-connected agents before the general public ever sees it. If you’re looking to boost exposure, get expert feedback, and build stronger agent relationships, a broker caravan should be part of your listing strategy.
Maximize Listing Exposure With the Right Audience
The biggest advantage of a broker tour is visibility—targeted, qualified visibility. Instead of waiting for buyers to stumble across your listing, you’re putting it directly in front of agents who already have active clients.
- Increases your chances of a buyer showing within days of listing
- Creates urgency and early buzz before public open houses
- Helps get your listing seen by top-producing agents
- Opens the door to off-market or pre-MLS offers
Get Expert Pricing and Staging Feedback
- Get candid input on price, staging, layout, and features
- Learn if agents think it’s “hot” or needs a refresh
- Discover issues you can fix before buyers walk through
- Show your seller that you’re actively seeking market feedback
Strengthen Agent Relationships and Referral Opportunities
- Positions you as a proactive, connected local expert
- Builds goodwill and future deal flow with colleagues
- Makes your listings more attractive to agents with buyer pipelines
- Can turn a casual walk-through into a serious lead
🧠 Want to increase your reach even more? Add a QR code at your broker caravan using Showable—it’s a modern, contactless way to collect agent info and send digital brochures automatically.

Step-by-Step: How to Host a Broker Caravan
Step 1: Plan the Timing and Format
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays are prime caravan days in many markets
- Avoid holidays, school breaks, or big local events
- Decide whether to host a solo tour or join a regional MLS caravan
- Plan for 1–2 hours max—agents are busy and won’t linger
Step 2: Promote Your Broker Open House
- Post it in your MLS caravan schedule (if applicable)
- Email your local agent list with all the details
- Share the event in Facebook agent groups or local Realtor networks
- Drop flyers or text invites to top agents in your area
Step 3: Prepare the Home (and the Host!)
- Clean and stage the home like it’s media day
- Print out listing sheets, disclosures, and feature highlights
- Offer refreshments—nothing fancy, just not gas station cookies

Mistakes to Avoid When Hosting a Broker Caravan
Mistake #1: Poor Timing and No Promotion
- Don’t schedule during holiday weeks, big closings, or market slowdowns
- Give agents at least 3–5 days’ notice
- Use MLS, email, social media, and text invites to spread the word
- Add your event to local agent Facebook groups or caravan calendars
Mistake #2: No Structure, No Sign-In, No Follow-Up
- Always have a clear sign-in method (QR codes work great here)
- Prep materials ahead of time: listing sheets, comps, feature flyers
- Ask for feedback while the home is fresh in their minds
- Send a follow-up email with highlights or updates
Mistake #3: Ignoring the Power of Presentation
- Stage the home like it’s being judged by HGTV hosts (because it kind of is)
- Turn on all lights, open blinds, and create an inviting entry
- Offer refreshments—they don’t need to be fancy, just thoughtful
- Avoid barking dogs, loud music, or tenants hanging around awkwardly
Tech Tools to Make Your Broker Caravan Better
Use a Digital Sign-In Tool
- Use Showable to generate a custom QR code sign-in page
- Automatically capture agent names, emails, and brokerage info
- Eliminate messy handwriting and forgotten sign-ins
- Send automated follow-ups with digital brochures and thank-you notes
Automate Your Follow-Up
- Connect Showable to your CRM or email marketing platform
- Trigger thank-you emails with listing details or price updates
- Use tags to track who’s interested and who needs a nudge
- Follow up with a short survey to get feedback on the property
Digitize Your Listing Materials
- Create a digital brochure or single-property landing page
- Include HD photos, features, price, and download links
- Make sure it’s mobile-friendly and easy to forward
- Link it directly from your QR code or post-event email

FAQs About Broker Caravans
Do broker caravans still work in today’s market?
What’s the best day and time for a broker open house?
Can I host a broker tour without being on the official MLS schedule?
Should I offer food or giveaways during the event?
How do I track who attended my broker open house?
How many homes are usually included in a broker caravan?
Do I need to stage the home for a broker tour?
What should I include in the agent handouts?
How do I get agents to show up?
Can I host a virtual broker caravan instead?
How do I follow up with agents after the broker caravan?
Can I require agents to sign in?
Should I stay at the property during the tour?
Is a broker caravan worth it in a slow market?
Can I host a broker caravan for a rental property?
How far in advance should I plan my caravan?
Do I need a permit or special approval to host one?
Conclusion: Are Broker Caravans Still Worth It? Absolutely.
And thanks to tools like Showable, hosting a professional, data-driven, and totally modern caravan is easier than ever. You can capture agent info with a QR code, send out automated follow-ups, and look like the tech-savvy pro clients want on their side.
So should you host a broker caravan? If you’re serious about marketing your listing like a pro—not just checking a box—the answer is 100% yes.