Open House Materials Every Realtor Needs On Hand

Want to know exactly which open house materials will help you stand out, capture leads, and convert more visitors into clients? This guide breaks down the essential open house materials every Realtor needs on hand—plus pro tips to help you host high-converting events with confidence.

Written by Seth Cox

Jul 02, 2025 / Open House Prep

The success of your open house depends heavily on one thing: preparation. And at the heart of that preparation are your open house materials. Whether you’re a new agent or a seasoned professional, bringing the right items to your open house can be the difference between a missed opportunity and a new client. From eye-catching flyers to digital sign-in tools, your materials should do more than look good—they should help you generate leads, build credibility, and keep your visitors engaged.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through every must-have item for real estate open houses, explain what to bring to an open house as a Realtor, and share expert strategies to make sure your materials work hard for you. If you’ve ever wondered how to host a high-converting open house, this is your blueprint.

Flyers and Brochures

Flyers and brochures are among the most impactful open house materials because they offer visitors something tangible to take home and reference afterward. High-quality print materials serve as ongoing reminders of your listing and professionalism, reinforcing your brand and helping potential buyers keep the property top-of-mind.

When designing effective flyers and brochures, consider these best practices:

Property Overview: Clearly present critical details such as square footage, room count, upgrades, and standout features.
Visual Appeal: Use professional, high-resolution images to capture attention and highlight the property's strengths, like recent remodels, beautiful landscaping, or spacious living areas.
Clear Contact Information: Make sure your name, phone number, email address, and website are prominently displayed to facilitate follow-ups.

Additionally, it's beneficial to include local market highlights or neighborhood selling points, creating added context and value for potential buyers.

Capturing contact information is one of the most important goals of any open house, and your sign-in method plays a critical role in that process. While paper sign-in sheets are still used by some agents, modern digital sign-in systems have become the preferred option for agents looking to generate and manage leads more effectively.

Here’s how to make the most of your open house sign-in strategy:

Use a branded digital sign-in app: Tools like Showable make it easy to collect guest information and instantly sync it with your CRM for automated follow-up.
Ask the right questions: Collect names, emails, phone numbers, and whether the visitor is working with an agent or currently house hunting.
Make it easy and welcoming: Use a tablet or phone at the front door and encourage sign-in with a smile. You can even offer a giveaway entry as incentive.
Avoid manual entry errors: Digital sign-ins reduce the risk of unreadable handwriting or forgotten details, ensuring your follow-up is accurate and timely.

By upgrading from paper to a professional digital sign-in experience, you’ll capture more leads, streamline your workflow, and demonstrate that you take your business—and your visitors—seriously.

Local Market Reports

Bringing local market reports to your open house is one of the most powerful ways to showcase your real estate expertise and build trust with potential buyers. These reports help visitors understand where the property sits in relation to current market trends—and they position you as the local expert who can guide them confidently through a purchase.

To maximize the impact of your market reports, consider the following tips:

Include key stats buyers care about: Median home prices, days on market, list-to-sale ratios, and recent sales in the area.
Use visuals to tell the story: Charts, graphs, and infographics make your data easier to digest and more memorable.
Personalize the content: Focus on the immediate neighborhood or school district where the home is located—don’t just share generic city-wide stats.

Bonus tip: Include a QR code on the report that links to a live market trends dashboard or a downloadable PDF for later reference. This not only makes you look tech-savvy, but it also gives buyers a reason to revisit your listing after the event.

Business Cards

Don’t underestimate the power of a great business card at your open house. While much of real estate marketing has gone digital, a well-designed card still leaves a strong impression and ensures potential clients know how to reach you after the event. It’s one of the simplest yet most effective open house materials you can bring.

To make your business cards stand out:

Keep the design clean and professional: Use your brand colors, a readable font, and high-quality materials that reflect your credibility as an agent.
Include essential contact details: Name, phone number, email address, website, and your social media handles (if you actively post about listings or the market).
Add a QR code: Link directly to your digital business card, open house landing page, or a property portfolio to make following up even easier.
Leave them in multiple spots: Place a stack near the sign-in station, next to brochures, and even inside each room of the home.

Every visitor who walks through the door is a lead—even if they’re not buying that day. Make sure they leave with a tangible reminder of you.

Directional Signs

Directional signs are one of the most overlooked yet powerful open house tools in a real estate agent’s arsenal. These signs do more than just point people to the home—they help generate foot traffic from passersby, increase neighborhood visibility, and make your event feel more professional and well-run.

Here’s how to make your open house directional signs more effective:

Place signs at high-traffic intersections: Use arrows to guide drivers from major roads to the property. Add your name or logo to reinforce your brand.
Follow local sign ordinances: Always check city or HOA regulations to avoid fines or removal.
Use bold colors and large fonts: Make sure your signage is visible from a distance and easily readable while driving.
Add the date and time: Signs that include real-time info feel more urgent and actionable to potential buyers.
Double up near turns or confusing routes: Help visitors stay on track by placing a second sign right before the turn.

If you want to attract more traffic to your open house, real estate signs can make or break your success. Invest in durable, branded signs that you can reuse—and map out your placement strategy before event day.

Branded Promotional Items

Branded promotional items are a simple but effective way to make your open house memorable. These small giveaways—like water bottles, pens, or notepads—help reinforce your real estate brand while giving visitors something useful to take home. The best items are those that combine function with subtle marketing.

To make the most of branded open house materials:

Choose items people will actually use: Think water bottles on a hot day, mints by the door, or pens at the sign-in table.
Keep your branding clean and visible: Include your name, logo, and website, but avoid cluttering the design.
Use quality over quantity: A sleek notebook or a well-made reusable tote goes further than a pile of cheap plastic trinkets.
Tie your items to the season or theme: For example, offer hand sanitizer in winter, sunscreen in summer, or a branded cookie with coffee at morning events.

Real estate giveaways don’t have to be expensive. With the right approach, they can boost recall, encourage referrals, and make your open house feel elevated.

Door Prizes and Giveaways

Offering a door prize or giveaway at your open house can dramatically increase attendance, boost engagement, and give you a compelling reason to collect guest contact info. Whether it’s a small gift card or a locally sourced goodie basket, door prizes create a sense of fun and urgency that makes your open house more than just another showing.

To make your open house giveaway a success:

Choose universally appealing prizes: Gift cards, wine bottles, candles, or local restaurant certificates tend to attract the most interest.
Use the prize to drive sign-ins: Require visitors to sign in (digitally or on paper) to be entered—this helps you build your lead list.
Display the prize prominently: A visible, well-presented giveaway reminds guests to enter and adds excitement to the event.
Announce the winner after the event: This gives you a perfect excuse to follow up and keep the conversation going.

Open house door prizes don’t just add value—they also position you as an agent who goes the extra mile. Even a modest giveaway can generate buzz and lead to more referrals.

Open House Snacks and Refreshments

Offering refreshments at your open house isn’t just a nice touch—it’s a proven way to make guests feel welcome, linger longer, and create a positive first impression of both the home and you as the agent. Even simple offerings can help visitors feel more at ease and associate your event with a professional, thoughtful experience.

Best practices for open house refreshments:

Stick to clean, low-maintenance options: Individually wrapped cookies, fruit skewers, or bottled drinks are easy to serve and mess-free.
Match the food to the home's vibe: Offer upscale treats for a luxury listing or locally sourced items for a community-focused property.
Provide branded napkins or signage: This adds polish and reinforces your personal brand.
Be mindful of allergies and cleanup: Avoid common allergens like nuts and plan for a quick post-event clean-up.

The goal isn’t to cater a meal—it’s to create a welcoming atmosphere that encourages connection. A small snack and drink station can do more for your open house than you might expect.

Neighborhood and Community Information

For many buyers, the neighborhood is just as important as the home itself. Including printed or digital materials that highlight the surrounding community can make your open house stand out and help potential buyers envision their lifestyle beyond the property. This information not only adds value—it positions you as a well-informed local expert.

Key ways to showcase neighborhood and community features:

Create a local amenities handout: Include nearby schools, grocery stores, parks, gyms, restaurants, and transit options.
Highlight what makes the area unique: Mention walkability, local events, farmer’s markets, or school rankings.
Include a custom map or QR code: Link to a digital guide or interactive neighborhood map for easy access on mobile.
Tailor info to your audience: For example, families may want school details, while remote workers might care more about cafés and coworking spaces.

Well-prepared community information helps buyers feel confident about the home’s location and makes your open house presentation feel polished and complete.

Feedback Forms

Open house feedback forms are an underrated tool for gauging buyer interest, uncovering objections, and improving how you present a property. Whether you use paper or digital forms, collecting feedback helps you understand what potential buyers are really thinking—and gives you valuable insights to share with the seller.

Tips for creating effective real estate open house feedback forms:

Keep it short and focused: Ask 3–5 key questions such as “What did you like most?”, “What would you change?”, and “Do you see yourself making an offer?”
Use multiple choice with optional comments: Make it easy for guests to respond quickly while still offering room for deeper input.
Brand your form professionally: Whether printed or digital, include your name, photo, and contact info so it doesn’t feel generic.
Offer a follow-up incentive: Let guests know their feedback helps improve the experience—and maybe even enter them into your giveaway.

Collecting open house feedback is one of the easiest ways to demonstrate value to sellers and refine your selling strategy in real time.

Staging Essentials

Staging is one of the most effective ways to help buyers emotionally connect with a home—and having the right staging materials on hand can make a huge difference in how your listing is perceived. Even small adjustments can create flow, enhance features, and turn a plain space into a showstopper.

Essential open house staging tips and materials include:

Neutral décor and accents: Use pillows, throws, rugs, and greenery to add warmth without distracting from the home.
Lighting accessories: Bring in floor or table lamps to brighten dark corners and create ambiance in rooms with poor natural light.
Scent control: Use subtle air fresheners, fresh flowers, or candles to create a clean, inviting environment (but avoid overpowering smells).
Decluttering tools: Keep extra bins or baskets on hand to quickly store away personal items or last-minute messes before guests arrive.
Printed staging checklist: Use a room-by-room guide to ensure nothing is overlooked during setup.

When done right, staging doesn’t just make a home look better—it helps buyers imagine themselves living there.

Digital Presentations

A polished digital presentation can elevate your open house from ordinary to exceptional. Whether displayed on a tablet, laptop, or mounted screen, digital slideshows and video tours help highlight the home’s best features while keeping guests engaged. They’re especially valuable when showcasing before-and-after remodels, drone footage, or lifestyle visuals that static printouts can’t convey.

To create an effective open house digital presentation:

Use professional photography and video: Highlight key spaces like the kitchen, living areas, and backyard with dynamic visuals.
Include short, punchy text overlays: Reinforce features like “New Roof 2023” or “Chef’s Kitchen with 6-Burner Range.”
Loop the presentation automatically: Set it to autoplay during the open house so guests can view it without assistance.
Host it online too: Upload the slideshow or video to a property website or landing page for follow-up emails.

Digital presentations are a powerful tool in your open house marketing toolkit—helping you create an immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression.

Neighborhood Market Data - Open House Materials

Leveraging Neighborhood Market Data

Showcasing neighborhood market data at your open house is one of the most powerful ways to educate buyers and demonstrate your expertise. When you can clearly explain where the property fits within the local market, you help visitors feel more informed—and more confident in you as their agent.

One of the best tools for this is a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), which includes:

Recent nearby sales: Show how the property compares in size, condition, and price.
Active and pending listings: Give buyers a sense of competition and what else is available.
Average days on market: Set expectations for how quickly homes are selling.
Price trends: Use graphs or quick stats to illustrate value stability or appreciation.

Consider printing your CMA or displaying it on a tablet. For added engagement, include a QR code that links to a live market dashboard or email-gated download—giving you one more way to collect leads while offering value.

Leveraging Technology

In today’s real estate landscape, leveraging technology at your open house isn’t optional—it’s expected. Digital tools not only streamline the guest experience but also help you capture more leads, follow up faster, and make your presentation feel modern and professional.

Here are smart ways to use technology in your open house materials:

QR codes: Link to property flyers, virtual tours, or digital sign-in forms using QR codes displayed at the entry or on printed materials.
Digital sign-in systems: Apps like Showable allow you to collect guest info instantly and sync with your CRM for automated follow-up.
Tablet presentations: Use a looping video or slideshow on a tablet to highlight features, share testimonials, or explain next steps for interested buyers.
Smart home demos: If the home includes smart devices (thermostats, security, lighting), demonstrate how they work to add wow factor.

Using real estate open house technology shows that you're up-to-date, organized, and serious about selling—and that’s exactly what today’s buyers expect.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Open House Materials

Even experienced agents can overlook critical details when preparing for an open house. Avoiding common mistakes with your open house materials can mean the difference between a forgettable showing and a high-converting event. It’s not just about what you bring—it’s about how those materials function as part of your larger lead generation system.

Here are the most common pitfalls—and how to avoid them:

Forgetting to brand your materials: Generic flyers, forms, or signs miss the chance to build trust and recognition.
Using outdated or sloppy printouts: Poor formatting, typos, or low-quality images send the wrong message about how you handle business.
Neglecting lead capture tools: If you’re not using a digital sign-in app or collecting contact info, you’re losing future business.
Overloading guests with too much info: Keep materials concise and engaging—don’t overwhelm people with 10-page packets.
Failing to follow up: Even the best materials won’t matter if you don’t use the data you’ve collected to continue the conversation.

By tightening up your process and refining each piece of open house collateral, you’ll not only look more professional—you’ll convert more leads and win more listings.

FAQs About Open House Materials

What materials should a real estate agent bring to an open house?

At minimum, bring flyers, business cards, a sign-in system (preferably digital), directional signs, and basic staging materials. Enhancing with community info, market reports, refreshments, and promotional items can increase engagement and lead capture.

Is it better to use digital or paper sign-in sheets?

Digital sign-in sheets are more efficient and professional. They reduce errors, make follow-up easier, and often sync directly with your CRM—especially when using tools like Showable.

How many directional signs do I need for an open house?

Plan for 5–10 signs depending on the area’s traffic flow and intersections. Place them strategically from main roads to the property’s front door for maximum visibility.

Should I include pricing information on my flyers?

Yes—include the asking price, but also highlight value-add features like upgrades, location perks, or recent improvements. This keeps buyers informed and reduces unnecessary questions.

How can I make my open house materials stand out?

Use consistent branding, high-quality visuals, and clear messaging. Adding a QR code, offering a giveaway, or sharing a digital CMA can help you stand out from other agents.

Conclusion

Having the right open house materials isn’t just about looking professional—it’s about being prepared to capture leads, build trust, and win more business. Every flyer, sign-in form, neighborhood handout, and follow-up tool plays a role in guiding potential buyers from curious visitors to loyal clients. The best real estate agents treat each open house as a marketing campaign, using strategic materials to showcase their expertise and provide a standout experience.

Whether you’re hosting your first open house or your hundredth, continually refining your materials is key to staying competitive. With the right tools—and the right system in place—you’ll turn open houses into one of the most powerful lead generation engines in your real estate business.