What is a good turnout for an open house? Whether you're hosting in an urban, suburban, or rural area, this guide breaks down how many visitors to expect—based on location, season, and day of the week. Learn what affects open house attendance, how to boost foot traffic, and why lead quality matters more than the total number of guests. Perfect for agents who want to turn every open house into a high-converting success.
If you’ve ever wrapped up an open house and thought, “Was that a good turnout?”—you’re not alone. Many real estate agents struggle to know whether five visitors is a success or a sign something went wrong. Without a clear benchmark, it’s easy to second-guess your results.
The truth is, a good turnout for an open house depends on where, when, and how you host it. Urban listings typically see more walk-ins, while rural properties may have just a handful of serious buyers. Weekends draw bigger crowds than midweek showings, and seasonal trends can make or break your foot traffic.
In this article, we’ll explore what counts as a good open house turnout based on market type, day of the week, and time of year—plus how to set realistic expectations and focus on what really matters: lead quality and follow-up.
There’s no universal number that guarantees success, but most real estate agents agree on a general range. A solid open house turnout usually falls between 15 and 20 visitors, depending on the market, listing price, and how well the event is promoted.
Entry-level homes in popular neighborhoods may draw 20 or more attendees, while higher-end or rural properties may only see a handful—but those visitors are often more serious. First open houses tend to attract the most traffic, with follow-up events seeing a gradual decline unless re-promoted with a fresh angle.
Here’s what most agents can expect:
5–10 visitors: Common for slower markets, higher-end homes, or rural areas
20–50+ visitors: More likely in dense urban markets or hot buyer environments
Fewer than 5 visitors: Not ideal, but can still yield strong leads if marketed to the right audience
The next step is understanding how these numbers change based on your location, timing, and season—which we’ll break down in the following sections.
Open House Attendance by Area Type
Open House Attendance by Area Type
Your market type plays a major role in determining what a good open house turnout looks like. Agents in dense metro areas will naturally see different numbers than those in small towns or rural settings. Understanding these differences helps set better expectations—and avoid unnecessary stress.
Open houses in urban neighborhoods often see the highest foot traffic. The walkability, population density, and volume of nearby listings can drive large turnouts—especially if the property is well-staged and centrally located.
20–50+ visitors is common for condos and smaller homes in busy markets
High-rise buildings and downtown properties benefit from easy drop-ins
Marketing still matters, but location does much of the heavy lifting
Open House Attendance In Suburban Areas
In suburban markets, open house attendance depends more heavily on agent-driven promotion. These homes typically require buyers to plan their visit in advance, so strong marketing and signage are essential.
10–20 visitors is considered a solid turnout
Family-friendly neighborhoods tend to draw consistent interest
Timing and local competition significantly impact traffic
Open House Attendance In Rural Areas
Rural open houses often see the lowest visitor numbers—but that doesn’t mean they’re unsuccessful. Most attendees are highly intentional, and the agent’s local network plays a much larger role in turnout.
3–10 visitors is typical and often sufficient
Homes may be farther apart, reducing spontaneous visits
Lead quality tends to be high, even if the volume is low
Understanding these benchmarks by area type can help you gauge how well your open house performed relative to your market. Next, we’ll look at how timing—day of the week and season—affects attendance.
Open House Turnout by Day of the Week
Open House Turnout by Day of the Week
When you host your open house can be just as important as where. Certain days consistently deliver higher foot traffic, while others are better suited for specific audiences like agents or investors. Choosing the right day—and time—can significantly impact your results.
Open House Attendance on Weekends
Weekends are the most popular time for open houses, and for good reason. Buyers are off work, families can tour together, and agents often plan multiple showings in the same area.
Sunday afternoons (12–3 PM) are the peak window
Saturday mornings and early afternoons are also strong, especially in family-focused suburbs
Expect higher turnout—typically 10–30+ visitors in active markets
Midweek open houses are common in certain niches, especially for brokers' opens, agent previews, or investor-targeted listings. While public turnout is usually lower, these events can provide valuable professional feedback and off-market exposure.
Turnout tends to be 3–10 visitors
Best used for networking or early-listing strategy
Timing should accommodate professionals—usually late morning to early afternoon
Open House Attendance on Friday Evenings
Some agents experiment with Friday twilight opens, particularly in urban or condo-heavy areas where after-work traffic might help. These events can offer a relaxed, social atmosphere, but attendance varies widely.
5–15 visitors is typical for well-marketed events
Works best when paired with refreshments or unique staging
Ideal for younger buyers or high-rise listings in walkable areas
Now that you know how day-of-week impacts turnout, let’s explore how seasonality affects open house attendance throughout the year.
Open House Attendance by Season
Open House Attendance by Season
Seasonality plays a major role in open house turnout. Buyer motivation, weather, school schedules, and holiday timing all influence how many people show up—and how serious they are about making an offer. Understanding seasonal patterns helps agents plan smarter and set realistic expectations.
Average Open House Attendance In Spring
Spring is the strongest season for open house traffic. Warmer weather, fresh listings, and a surge in buyer activity create ideal conditions.
Expect above-average turnout across most markets
Families aim to buy before summer break
Properties show well with better natural light and curb appeal
Average Open House Attendance In Summer
Summer starts strong but can taper off in mid to late season. Vacations, heat, and school breaks may impact attendance, though motivated buyers still show up.
Early summer open houses often perform well
Weekday and evening options may help with schedule conflicts
Turnout may drop in July and August in family-focused suburbs
Average Open House Attendance In Fall
Fall open houses see moderate traffic. Many buyers want to close before the holidays or year-end, creating a sense of urgency.
Steady attendance, especially for homes priced competitively
Less competition from other listings compared to spring
Crisp weather and seasonal staging can enhance the showing
Lower volume—3 to 10 visitors may be a solid outcome
Quality often outweighs quantity during this time
Warm staging and lighting can help create a cozy impression
With seasonality in mind, the next step is understanding the additional factors that influence turnout—many of which are within your control. Let’s take a look at those next.
What Factors Influence Open House Turnout
What Factors Influence Open House Turnout?
While location, day, and season all play a role, there are several additional factors that directly influence how many people walk through the door. These variables are especially important because they’re often within your control—making them critical for planning and adjusting your open house strategy.
Market conditions: In a hot seller’s market, more buyers are actively touring homes. In slower markets, even well-promoted open houses may have lower turnout.
Price point: Lower-priced homes typically attract more visitors due to broader buyer interest. Luxury listings often see fewer, but more qualified, attendees.
Marketing strategy: Listings with strong visuals, clear descriptions, and widespread promotion (MLS, social media, email, signage) consistently draw better traffic.
Curb appeal and staging:A well-prepared home increases the likelihood that visitors will stop in, especially if they’re driving by.
Competing events: If other major events or multiple open houses are happening at the same time, your traffic may split or drop off entirely.
Ultimately, what’s considered “successful” isn’t just the number of guests—it’s whether the open house helps move the listing forward, generates leads, or creates future opportunities. Next, we’ll look at how to increase your turnout with smart, actionable tactics.
How to Increase Turnout at Your Next Open House
How to Increase Turnout at Your Next Open House
If your recent open houses haven’t drawn the crowd you hoped for, don’t worry—there are proven strategies that can significantly boost attendance. With the right combination of marketing, outreach, and timing, you can attract more qualified buyers and create stronger momentum for your listing.
Promote across multiple platforms: Don’t rely on the MLS alone. Post your open house on Zillow, Realtor.com, Facebook, Instagram, and Google Business Profile.
Leverage email and CRM lists: Send open house invites to your sphere of influence, past clients, and buyer leads. Make it personal and direct.
Use targeted social media ads: Facebook and Instagram ads let you geo-target local buyers and renters who may not be actively searching but are open to the right opportunity.
Place clear and abundant signage: High-contrast, directional signs at major intersections and neighborhood entry points drive local foot traffic.
Engage the neighbors: Invite nearby homeowners to stop by. Even if they’re not buyers, they may refer someone—or become your next listing.
Boosting open house attendance starts with visibility. The more ways you create awareness—online, offline, and in-person—the more likely you are to draw serious, ready-to-act buyers. But once they walk through the door, the next step is turning attendance into meaningful leads. Let’s look at that next.
Why Lead Quality Matters More Than Quantity
Why Lead Quality Matters More Than Quantity
It’s easy to get caught up in the number of people who attend your open house—but volume doesn’t always equal value. A room full of unqualified looky-loos won’t move the needle for your seller. Meanwhile, a smaller turnout that includes one serious buyer or a potential new client can make the entire event worthwhile.
What truly defines a successful open house is what happens after the visit:
Did you capture accurate contact information? A digital or physical sign-in system is essential for follow-up. Without it, most leads vanish.
Did you have meaningful conversations? Prioritize quality interactions that reveal buyer intent, timelines, or agent representation.
Did any visitors request a second showing or send an offer? Even one strong lead can mean a win.
Did you generate future business? Many agents use open houses to meet neighbors, find potential sellers, or grow their database.
Instead of just aiming for high turnout, focus on how well you engage, qualify, and follow up with every guest. In many cases, the real ROI of an open house shows up in your CRM—not your guest count. Up next: what to do if no one shows up at all.
What to Do If No One Shows Up
What to Do If No One Shows Up
Even the best agents occasionally host an open house where no one walks through the door. It can feel discouraging—but it doesn’t have to be a wasted opportunity. In fact, how you respond can set the tone for your seller relationship and help you improve your next event.
Review your promotion strategy: Double-check that the listing was posted in all the right places, the signage was visible, and invites went out in advance.
Reconsider timing and competition: Was it scheduled during a holiday weekend, bad weather, or alongside multiple competing events? Small changes can make a big difference.
Communicate transparently with your seller: Let them know what happened, what you learned, and how you plan to adjust. Proactivity builds trust.
Use the time wisely: Take fresh listing photos, record a walk-through video, or go live on social media to give the home more exposure.
Reschedule with improvements: A second open house with better timing, promotion, or staging can draw a very different outcome.
No-show days happen—but they’re not a failure. They’re data points. The key is using them to refine your strategy and create better results next time. Let’s wrap up with a few final thoughts on how to redefine success when it comes to open house turnout.
Open House Success in Today’s Market
Conclusion: Redefining Open House Success in Today’s Market
So, what is a good turnout for an open house? The real answer is: it depends. Location, timing, season, price point, and marketing all play a role in determining how many people show up. But the number of visitors alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
A good open house isn’t just about foot traffic—it’s about opportunity. Did you meet a serious buyer? Capture new leads? Strengthen your relationship with the seller? Generate buzz in the neighborhood? These are the true markers of success.
By setting realistic expectations, focusing on lead quality, and refining your promotion strategy, you can turn any open house—big or small—into a productive step toward closing the deal or building your business.
The turnout is just the beginning. What you do with it is what really counts.
Sources and References
National Association of Realtors - Seasonality In The Housing Market Annual survey data showing how real estate activity changes throughout the year
