The Ultimate 7-Day Open House Promotion Kit: Ads, Posts, and Print Collateral for Real Estate Agents
Most open houses underperform because the promotion window is too short and too random. This seven day plan fixes both with a simple cadence that stacks awareness, intent, and turnout. It also bakes in lead capture so your weekend traffic converts to appointments. If local search is part of your plan, pair this system with The Ultimate Guide to Local SEO for Real Estate Agents to stay visible all week.
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Why This Isn’t Optional
Most agents start pushing on Thursday or Friday. That misses easy wins earlier in the week and creates a last minute scramble that looks unplanned. Buyers see the chaos. So do neighbors who could refer your next listing.
This seven day plan fixes timing and consistency. Every piece, from geo targeted ads to postcards, points to the same details and the same sign in funnel. You’ll get more foot traffic and better follow up data without adding extra tools.
To strengthen your baseline visibility, add internal links and long tail search terms from SEO for Real Estate: How Realtors® Can Dominate Local Search and Generate More Leads and SEO Strategies for Real Estate Websites to Increase Leads.
What to Do First
Before you start the countdown, lock the basics so you can move fast later. This is your pre game list.
- Photography: Use clean, well lit images and a 10 to 15 second horizontal or vertical clip you can trim for ads.
- MLS and showing data: Make sure the listing is active and the open house times are correct. Double check directions and gate codes.
- Design assets: Create a master flyer, a square social graphic, and a caption template that mentions time and neighborhood.
- Lead capture: Build a digital sign in form and a QR code that routes to it. Print two QR code tent cards for the entry and kitchen.
Main Moves: The 7-Day Timeline
Internal and SOI Announcement
Channel: Email to sphere of influence and past clients. Audience is warm contacts only.
Action: Send a soft launch note that asks for early feedback, not a hard sell.
Subject: Sneak Peek. You need to see our new listing at [Address].
Body: Two lines, one photo, a simple “Reply if you want the full photo set or floor plan.”
Official Social Announcement
Channel: Instagram and Facebook organic. Audience is your full follower base.
Action: Post a five image carousel. Pin the time in the first line and the neighborhood in the second line.
Caption: New to the market. Open House this weekend, Sat Sun [Time]. This [Feature] will go fast. Tap the link in bio for the price. #NewListing [CityName]
Checklist: Location tag on, comments open, saveable text overlay on the first card, link in bio updated.
Ad Setup and Targeted Drop
Channel: Facebook and Instagram ads. Objective is lead generation or traffic to a details page with your sign in form.
Audience: People within five miles who show interests like Zillow, Trulia, and home decor. Exclude your page admins.
Hook: Stop Scrolling. Is this your dream kitchen
CTA: Get Open House Details
Setup notes: Use one square image and one short clip. Keep the primary text under 90 characters. Duplicate the ad set for A B copy tests.
Neighbor Awareness and Print Prep
Action: Print flyers and a small run of neighborhood postcards. Pack at least ten directional signs with stakes.
Neighborhood card copy: Your New Neighbor is Moving In. Open House details inside.
Add: A QR code for a free market report that routes to your sign in form with a “street name” field.
Behind the Scenes Reel
Channel: Instagram Reels or TikTok. Film a quick walk that calls out three features.
On screen text: Open House in 6 Days
Dialogue hook: I just locked up the keys to your new home. Wait till you see the backyard.
Tip: Keep clips under 1.2 seconds. Add captions and end with a frame that shows the time and address.
Retargeting Boost
Channel: Facebook and Instagram ads. Duplicate Friday’s ad set and switch the audience to a 1 percent lookalike of past clients.
Hook: Final Days to Plan Your Weekend Tour
Budget note: Raise spend by a small amount and set frequency cap to three per person for the week.
Final Reminder and Field Prep
Email: Send a short reminder to SOI and anyone who clicked the first email link.
Subject: Open House FINAL REMINDER. This Saturday.
Field work: Stage internal signage. Pack feature sheets, two QR tents, blue painter’s tape, and zip ties. Place directional signs according to traffic flow and city rules.
Playbook Notes: Ad Audiences That Pull
Geo targeted warm audience: Build a radius of two miles around the address and include the ZIP code. Test renter targeting where allowed to find move up buyers. Exclude page admins and people who already submitted your form.
Lookalike audience: Upload your past client list and create a one percent lookalike. Keep age broad. Use the kitchen photo for this set since it usually earns the highest hold time.
Interest based retargeting: Create a group of people who clicked your D 5 ad but did not submit. Run a smaller “last chance” version that shows the time and address in the first three seconds.
The Short List: Print and Presence
- Exterior: Ten directional signs, balloons for visibility, one agent flag near the curb where allowed.
- Interior: Professionally printed feature sheets, guest sign in sheet as a backup, two QR tents, small “Sold” tags for standout upgrades.
- Follow up kit: Business cards and a one page neighborhood guide. Add a short URL to the guide that forwards to your sign in page.
What Matters Most
Consistency beats heroics. Ship each step on the right day and your open house becomes a reliable lead source. Want help with the ad setup and audience work. See our Paid Advertising Service. Need flyers and postcards templated to your brand. Our Design and Print Services can handle that and keep everything on spec.
Ready to run this on your next listing. Reach out through AmericasBestMarketing.com and ask for the Open House Promotion Kit.
Services mentioned: Paid Advertising Service and Design and Print Services.
What Successful Realtors® Are Reading
FAQ
Is it better to host an open house on a Saturday or a Sunday?
Pick the day that matches local patterns. If your market skews to Saturday errands, use Saturday. If faith and youth sports block Saturday, use Sunday. Test each for two listings and track turnout, sign ins, and post event appointments. Keep the winner for the season.
What is the minimum budget I should allocate for Facebook and Instagram ads?
Start with a modest daily spend for seven days. Split it 60 percent geo radius, 30 percent lookalike, 10 percent retargeting. Cap frequency at three per week and pause ad sets that fall under a one percent click rate. Increase only if your form completions improve.
Should I use paper sign in sheets or a digital sign in form with QR code?
Use both. The QR form feeds your CRM and routes to a follow up page. The paper sheet covers guests who refuse to scan. Enter paper contacts into your CRM within 24 hours and tag them with the property address for clean tracking.
How do I handle visitors who refuse to sign in at the door?
Offer a quick tour and a feature sheet, then circle back near the kitchen with the QR tent. Many sign after seeing the home. If they still decline, hand them your neighborhood guide card with the short URL. Add a tally mark so you can estimate true traffic.
What kind of refreshments should I offer at the open house?
Keep it simple and low risk. Bottled water, small wrapped cookies, and napkins. Avoid anything that can stain. Place a small bin near the exit so trash does not collect on counters or beds. Refill water every thirty minutes if traffic is steady.
How long after the open house should I wait to follow up with leads?
Follow up within two hours for hot leads and by the next morning for everyone else. Send your photo set link, the floor plan if available, and ask one question about timing or budget. Set a calendar reminder to check back within forty eight hours.
What is the single most important rule for open house staging?
Clear the surfaces and fix the lights. Clean counters, empty nightstands, and consistent lighting make rooms feel larger and photograph better. If you have time for one extra task, align rugs and straighten dining chairs so lines appear neat in photos and video.
Complete Multi-Channel Marketing Program
- Custom-branded marketing assets featuring you and your brand
- Branded social media: your services & testimonials (3/week)
- Listing social media: Just Listed • Open House • Pending • Sold
- Email campaigns personalized to you and your area
- Digital retargeting & contextual ad campaigns to your area
- Direct mail campaigns (scope & frequency set by you)
- GEO farm / niche marketing: direct mail & email campaigns
- Database formatting & research (priced per name researched)
- Consulting, strategy, coaching & accountability sessions
Pricing shown reflects current platform rates; ad spend and any postage/printing are billed separately.
