What Is A Broker Caravan? How Real Estate Agents Use Broker Tours To Sell Homes Faster

A broker caravan, also known as a broker tour or broker open, 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 / Open Houses

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to make broker caravans a strategic asset in your listing playbook.

What Is a Broker Caravan in Real Estate?

A broker caravan is a scheduled event—typically organized by a local MLS or real estate association—where a series of new or featured listings are open for preview by other licensed real estate agents. It gives agents the chance to see multiple listings in a region in one outing, often organized by zip code, price range, or neighborhood.

Unlike public open houses, broker caravans are intentionally private. The goal isn't to attract buyers directly but to help agents preview homes for their clients, get listing exposure, and collect feedback early in the selling process.

Broker Caravan vs. Public Open House: Key Differences Explained

While they may seem similar, broker caravans and open houses serve very different purposes. An open house is for potential buyers and the general public. A broker caravan is only for licensed agents and often happens earlier in the listing timeline.

Caravans offer the chance to:

Preview a new listing before it's widely shown
Gather peer feedback on price, staging, or presentation
Network with other local agents who may have buyers

Open houses, by contrast, focus on lead generation and showing the home to the end buyer. The best agents use both tools—but in different ways and at different stages.

What Actually Happens During a Broker Tour?

On caravan day, the listing agent prepares the home as if it were being shown to a buyer. The doors are open during a set window—usually a two- or three-hour timeframe. Participating agents receive a list of homes on tour (via email or MLS notes), and many plan their route to hit multiple listings in one outing.

Attending agents walk through, ask questions, and often leave comments—sometimes via printed feedback forms, sometimes through digital tools like Showable. Light snacks or refreshments may be offered. It's also common for agents to swap notes about market activity or share early impressions that could inform pricing.

Why Broker Caravans Still Matter in 2025

Despite the rise of virtual tours and AI-powered home searches, broker caravans continue to serve an important role. Many top agents rely on these events to stay sharp on local inventory, provide accurate comps for buyers, and build relationships with fellow professionals.

Caravans give homes valuable early exposure. If an agent tours a property and thinks of a buyer, that connection can be made before the listing hits a wider audience. The informal setting also allows for honest feedback, which can be critical for sellers deciding whether to adjust price or presentation.

In many markets, especially those driven by in-person networking, skipping broker caravans means missing opportunities.

How to Get Your Listing Featured on a Broker Caravan

To include your listing on a broker tour, start by checking with your local MLS or real estate board. Most have weekly or biweekly caravan schedules by region. Submissions typically happen through the MLS interface, often with a deadline several days in advance.

Make sure you:

Submit professional-quality photos and listing details
Add caravan notes clearly stating the date, time, and agent instructions
Confirm whether you need to be present or can use a lockbox

If space is limited or it’s a popular week, priority may go to newly listed homes. In some areas, you may need to sponsor or partner with a lender or affiliate to secure a spot.

Best Practices for Hosting a Successful Broker Caravan

Treat a broker caravan with the same care as a public open house. First impressions matter—especially when your visitors are other real estate professionals.

Clean thoroughly, stage the home to highlight its best features, and set up soft lighting and music. Offer printed materials that include MLS sheets, disclosures, and contact info. A sign-in sheet or digital registration via Showable helps you track attendance and follow up if needed.

You might provide refreshments, branded snacks, or even a small giveaway, but these are optional. What matters more is presenting the home confidently and creating space for open, professional dialogue.

How to Use Broker Feedback to Improve Your Listing Strategy

One of the biggest benefits of a broker tour is the early feedback it generates. Pay close attention to what other agents say—especially about price, layout, and presentation. If you hear the same critique from multiple attendees, that’s a signal worth acting on.

You can collect feedback in person, via email, or by using Showable’s digital sign-in and comment forms. Follow up with a brief thank-you and a quick note asking for input if none was provided. The insights you gather can help you fine-tune the listing, adjust your marketing narrative, or prepare sellers for pricing conversations.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Hosting a Broker Open

Agents sometimes treat broker caravans as informal or low-stakes events—but that’s a mistake. Avoid:

Forgetting to clean or prep the home properly
Skipping printed materials or sign-in tools
Hovering too aggressively or talking too much
Ignoring the feedback you’re given

The agents walking through might have multiple buyer clients and years of experience. Make the most of their time—and yours—by being prepared and professional.

Tools and Templates to Maximize Your Broker Caravan ROI

To get the most from your caravan, bring structure to how you promote, host, and follow up. Create a simple checklist to prepare the property, a digital sign-in form for visitors, and a follow-up plan to review comments and take action.

If you use Showable, you can:

Pre-register attendees or share the event via a landing page
Collect agent contact info and comments digitally
Sync attendees with your CRM or email marketing system

These small systems help you turn a one-time event into meaningful momentum—and even spark your next listing conversation with an attending agent.

Frequently Asked Questions About Broker Caravans

Do broker caravans really help sell homes? Yes—especially when they generate early interest or pricing feedback that improves market performance.
Should buyers attend a broker caravan? No. These are agent-only events and not designed for public viewing.
Do I have to stay the whole time? Ideally yes, or send a trusted team member. Being available for questions builds credibility.
How do I find the broker tour schedule for my area? Your MLS or local board usually posts a calendar or guide. Ask your broker or office admin if you're unsure.
Is a broker caravan worth it in a slow market? It can be even more valuable. You may learn why a home isn't selling—or uncover agents with motivated buyers.

Final Thoughts

Broker caravans may not be flashy, but they’re one of the most time-tested tools in real estate. When treated seriously, they offer valuable exposure, insights, and connections that no listing photo can replicate. Whether you're using it to refine pricing, get the word out early, or simply build professional goodwill, a well-run broker caravan is a smart move for any serious listing agent.

Want to streamline your next caravan? Use Showable to simplify sign-ins, capture feedback, and turn agent visits into real opportunities.