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20 Open House Door Prizes To Boost Attendance And Engage Buyers
Looking to boost attendance and engagement at your next open house? Discover the power of door prizes! In this helpful guide, we'll walk you through the best door prize ideas, how to organize an exciting giveaway, and tips to ensure your event is a success. Don't miss out on this easy way to attract more buyers and leave a lasting impression!
Written by Seth Cox
Jun 11, 2025 / Open house marketing
Open houses are an excellent opportunity for real estate agents to showcase a property, but getting the right people through the door and keeping them engaged can sometimes be a challenge. One proven strategy to make your open house more attractive is offering door prizes. Not only can they help increase foot traffic, but they also create a memorable experience that leaves a lasting impression on potential buyers. This guide will walk you through the benefits of offering door prizes, the best prize ideas, and tips for a successful giveaway.
Why You Should Offer Door Prizes at Open Houses
Door Prizes Attract More Visitors
Let’s face it—attending an open house takes time out of a person’s day. What can you offer to make it worth their while? A door prize is an excellent way to incentivize potential buyers to attend. By offering a desirable gift, you entice people to stop by, which ultimately increases your chances of making a sale.
Encourage Sign-Ins and Lead Generation
One of the key benefits of offering door prizes is the opportunity to gather contact information. You can tie the prize drawing to the sign-in sheet, ensuring that everyone who enters is a potential lead. It’s a simple yet effective way to grow your contact list and maintain follow-up opportunities.
Enhance the Open House Experience
A door prize adds an element of excitement and fun to the open house. It shows that you’ve thought outside the box to make the event special, which leaves a positive impression. This added value makes attendees feel more engaged, and they’re likely to remember your open house for a long time.
Strengthen Local Partnerships
Offering door prizes from local businesses is an excellent way to build relationships within the community. It’s a win-win for everyone involved—local businesses get exposure, and your open house receives a boost in attendance and interest.
The Best Door Prizes to Offer at Open Houses
Choosing the right prize is essential to your success. Ideally, it should appeal to your target audience, enhance the experience, and align with the overall theme of your open house. Here are some prize ideas to consider:
1) Gift Cards: Simple but Effective
Gift cards are versatile prizes that practically anyone can appreciate. Consider offering gift cards to local restaurants, coffee shops, or home improvement stores like Home Depot or Bed Bath & Beyond. A coffee gift card is a low-cost option that works well, while a gift card to a high-end home goods store can appeal to more affluent buyers.
2) Smart Home Devices: Appeal to the Modern Buyer
With the rise of smart technology, gadgets like Amazon Echo, Google Nest thermostats, or smart doorbells are excellent prize options. These devices resonate with tech-savvy buyers who are interested in modernizing their homes. Smart devices also tie in well with the idea of upgrading to a new home, making them a fitting giveaway.
3) Home Services Vouchers: Help Your Buyer Settle In
Vouchers for home services can be a big win for both buyers and sellers. You could offer discounts for moving services, professional cleaning, landscaping, or even a handyman service. This type of prize speaks directly to the needs of homebuyers and homeowners who are likely to need these services after they’ve purchased their home.
4) Weekend Getaways: Offering More than Just a Property Viewing
A weekend getaway is an attractive door prize, especially for busy professionals or couples looking to unwind. This prize could be for a stay at a local hotel, a spa weekend, or even a short vacation at a nearby resort. Offering an experience like this adds a personal touch and shows potential buyers that you care about their overall lifestyle, not just the property they’re viewing.
5) Custom Branded Merchandise: Keep Your Name Top of Mind
Branded merchandise such as tote bags, mugs, or keychains with your real estate agency’s logo is a practical and affordable door prize. While these might not have the same immediate “wow” factor as a vacation or smart home gadget, they keep your branding in front of attendees long after the open house is over. Plus, people love free stuff they can use in their daily lives.
6) Unique Local Experiences: Showcase the Community
One of the best ways to give value at an open house is by highlighting the local community. Offering door prizes that feature local businesses—such as a gift certificate to a popular local restaurant, tickets to a community event, or passes to a local attraction—serves the dual purpose of showcasing the area while enticing attendees to enter. This type of prize also signals to potential buyers that the neighborhood is a valuable part of the overall property experience.
7) Wine or Craft Beer Basket: A Sophisticated and Memorable Prize
A curated basket of local wine or craft beer is a popular and sophisticated door prize. Many homebuyers are interested in local culture, and showcasing local vineyards or breweries through a gift basket can be a memorable way to connect with them.
8) Fitness or Spa Membership: Promote Wellness and Self-Care
A one-month membership to a local gym, yoga studio, or spa can attract health-conscious buyers. It's a prize that promotes wellness and self-care, which can appeal to both single buyers and families looking to settle into a new home.
9) Cooking Class or Culinary Experience: A Unique and Fun Experience
For food lovers, offering a voucher for a local cooking class or private chef experience is a great prize. It’s a unique experience that brings value to a homebuyer while also encouraging them to explore the local dining scene.
10) Photography Session: A Professional Portrait or Real Estate Shoot
A professional family or real estate photography session can be a great incentive. A portrait session is especially appealing to families who might want high-quality photos for their new home or for a special occasion.
11) Subscription Services: Convenience and Value for Modern Living
Offering a subscription to services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or a monthly meal kit delivery like Blue Apron or HelloFresh can be a modern and appealing prize. It ties in well with the convenience of home living and can attract a broad demographic.
12) Home Décor or Furniture Voucher: Help Buyers Personalize Their Space
A gift card to a home décor or furniture store like Wayfair, West Elm, or local boutique shops can help homebuyers furnish their new space. This kind of prize provides immediate value and can be highly attractive for those looking to personalize their homes.
13) Tickets to a Sporting Event or Concert: Add Excitement and Entertainment
For those who enjoy live events, offering tickets to a local sporting event, concert, or theater performance can be a great incentive. It’s an experiential prize that adds excitement and shows your connection to the local community.
14) Outdoor Gear: Perfect for Buyers Who Love Nature
For buyers who love nature and the outdoors, consider offering items like hiking boots, camping gear, or fishing equipment. It’s a prize that resonates with people looking to enjoy the outdoors, which can be a great selling point if the property is near parks, trails, or outdoor recreational areas.
15) Personalized Home Items: Add a Touch of Uniqueness
Items like custom doormats, engraved cutting boards, or monogrammed towels can be a meaningful and personal prize. This type of prize makes a homebuyer feel special and can even tie in with the theme of housewarming or moving into a new space.
16) Local Art or Crafts: Showcase the Creativity of the Community
Offering a piece of local artwork or handmade crafts from local artisans is a wonderful way to tie the open house to the community. It’s a great prize that also doubles as a way to showcase the creativity of the area and offer a unique keepsake for potential buyers.
17) Pet Supplies Package: A Thoughtful Gesture for Pet Owners
For buyers with pets, offering a basket filled with pet supplies—such as toys, treats, or a custom pet bed—can be a great prize. It’s a thoughtful gesture that appeals to pet owners and can even create a bond with potential buyers who may be looking for a pet-friendly home.
18) Gardening Kit or Tools: Perfect for Buyers Who Love Gardening
If the property has a large yard or garden potential, consider offering a gardening kit with tools, seeds, and planters. It’s a prize that aligns with the interests of buyers looking to personalize and cultivate their outdoor space.
19) Experience Gift Voucher: Offer an Unforgettable Adventure
Offer a voucher for an experience such as a hot air balloon ride, a wine tasting tour, or a cooking class. Experience gifts often carry a sense of adventure and excitement, giving buyers something memorable to look forward to beyond the home purchase.
20) Subscription Box for Home Essentials: A Gift that Keeps on Giving
Offering a subscription box service like FabFitFun, Home Made Luxe, or a similar curated home essentials box is an exciting and unique prize. These services deliver new home and lifestyle items on a regular basis, from decor and kitchen gadgets to wellness products, which adds ongoing value. Buyers will appreciate the convenience of receiving curated, useful products delivered right to their door, keeping your brand top of mind long after the open house event.
Leverage Social Media to Promote Open House Drawings
Social media is one of the most powerful tools to generate buzz and attract visitors to your open house. By strategically promoting your door prize, you can boost attendance and create excitement around the event. Here’s how to leverage social media effectively to drive more visitors to your open house:
Create Engaging Posts with Eye-Catching Visuals
The first step in promoting your door prize on social media is creating visually appealing posts. Use high-quality images or graphics to showcase the prize. For example, if you're offering a luxury item like a gift card, a smart home device, or a local experience, post a picture of the prize that highlights its value and relevance. A good visual will grab attention and encourage people to share the post.
Highlight the Value of the Prize
When promoting the door prize, make sure to emphasize the value it provides. Explain what the prize is, why it’s desirable, and how attendees can benefit from it. For example, if you’re giving away a weekend getaway, mention how relaxing and rejuvenating the trip can be. If it’s a gift card to a high-end store, emphasize the ability to use it to furnish a new home. The more you sell the prize’s value, the more likely people are to show up.
Use Countdown Posts and Stories
Create a sense of urgency by using countdown posts or stories to build excitement as the open house approaches. Post regular updates as the event date draws near, and count down the days until the prize drawing. Social media stories (Instagram, Facebook, etc.) are perfect for quick updates and reminders. By maintaining this anticipation, you increase the likelihood that more people will visit your open house.
Create a Hashtag for the Event
Creating a unique hashtag for your open house and door prize giveaway will help track engagement and create a community around your event. Encourage visitors to use the hashtag when they share their experience at the open house or when they post about the prize. For example, you could use something like #MyDreamHomeGiveaway or #OpenHousePrize. This makes the event easier to find and encourages potential visitors to engage with your content.
Promote the Prize Across Multiple Platforms
Don’t just stick to one social media platform. Promote the door prize across multiple channels like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Each platform has different strengths, and cross-posting allows you to reach a larger and more diverse audience. On Instagram, for instance, use Stories and Posts, while on Facebook, you could create an Event page to boost visibility.
Run Paid Ads for More Reach
If your budget allows, consider running paid social media ads to further amplify your reach. With paid ads, you can target specific demographics based on location, interests, and even behaviors. For an open house, you can target potential buyers within your local area or those who have shown interest in similar properties. Ads will ensure that your door prize gets in front of a wider audience who may not be following you yet.
Use Social Proof and Testimonials
If you've held open houses or giveaways before, include testimonials or user-generated content from past winners or visitors to build credibility. Post photos or short stories from past open houses, showcasing happy winners or attendees enjoying their prize. Social proof helps build trust and motivates others to attend because they see the event’s value through real experiences.
Engage with Your Followers
Don’t just post and forget about it—engage with your followers! Respond to comments, thank people for sharing, and answer any questions about the door prize or event. When people see your active engagement, they’re more likely to feel a personal connection and make plans to attend.
Partner with Local Influencers or Businesses
If possible, collaborate with local influencers or businesses to promote the door prize. Local personalities or well-known businesses in the area can amplify your message, reaching potential buyers who may not have heard about your open house otherwise. A local influencer or business partner can also cross-promote the event on their channels, adding credibility and expanding your audience.
How to Successfully Organize a Door Prize Giveaway
Once you’ve selected your prize, it’s time to think about how to organize and promote the giveaway. Follow these tips to ensure your prize drawing goes off without a hitch:
Set Clear Entry Rules
To avoid confusion, make sure the rules for entering the door prize drawing are simple and straightforward. Typically, the requirement for entry would be for guests to sign in, which provides you with their contact information. You could also set a limit on the number of entries (e.g., one entry per person) to ensure fairness. Be transparent about the rules, including how and when the winner will be drawn.
Promote the Prize Ahead of Time
Marketing the door prize before the open house is crucial to attracting more visitors. Use social media, your website, and email newsletters to generate buzz about the event. You can also include the prize details in any flyers or direct mailers you send out. The more excitement you build around the prize, the more likely people will attend just to participate in the drawing.
Keep the Prize Relevant
Choose a prize that appeals to your target demographic. If your open house is for a luxury property, a high-end prize like a weekend getaway or a smart home device might be more appropriate. For a more affordable home, consider offering practical prizes such as home improvement gift cards or local experience vouchers. Matching the prize to the property and the buyer’s interests makes the giveaway feel more personal.
Don’t Forget to Follow Up
After the event, make sure you announce the winner of the door prize. This can be done on social media or through an email, and it’s a great way to stay connected with attendees. It also offers a second chance to re-engage with potential leads and follow up on their interest in the property.
Ensure Door Prizes Comply With Local Laws
To comply with local laws, make sure that no purchase is necessary to enter the door prize drawing. This is a common requirement for sweepstakes and giveaways to distinguish them from sales promotions. If potential attendees believe they have to make a purchase or commit to buying the property to be eligible for the prize, it could violate consumer protection laws.
To keep your promotion in the clear, structure your giveaway as a "free entry" opportunity, ensuring all guests who attend the open house have the same chance to win without needing to make a purchase. This policy will not only keep you legally compliant but also avoid any potential backlash from attendees who may feel pressured into a sale.
- No Purchase Necessary: Make sure you comply with local regulations by ensuring that entry doesn’t require a purchase or commitment to buy the property.
- Clear Terms and Conditions: Outline the prize details and how the winner will be selected. This transparency helps avoid misunderstandings.
- Prize Reporting: In some jurisdictions, prizes over a certain value may need to be reported for tax purposes. Be sure to know your obligations.
Conclusion: Supercharge Open Houses With Door Prizes
Door prizes can elevate the standard open house experience into an event that draws potential buyers and keeps them engaged. By offering relevant, desirable prizes and promoting them effectively, you can increase foot traffic, generate leads, and create lasting impressions on prospective buyers. So, next time you're planning an open house, think about what exciting prize could make your event stand out from the rest.
