How to Set up an Open House

Knowing how to set up an open house is an essential skill that a landlord needs to keep a rental property occupied. Whether you’re a first-time landlord or you’ve received notice that a tenant won’t renew a lease, an open house is an ideal way to introduce prospective renters to your property and entice them into signing a lease. 

How to Set Up an Open House

Different than an individual showing, an open house encourages potential tenants to stop by a rental property where the landlord, property manager, or real estate agent is available to take them on a tour and answer questions. There are several steps required to set up a successful open house, such as preparing the property, promoting the event, and taking full advantage of the time that you have with guests.   These steps can help ensure their first impression is a positive one: 

1. Complete any needed repairs
   This can include filling in any holes, replacing worn or damaged flooring, fixing railing and stairs, and repairing any appliances that aren’t working correctly.
2. Clean the home and eliminate any bad odors
   Nothing can leave a wrong impression for a potential renter like a property with a bad smell. Some tricks to eliminate any lingering odors include sweep, mop, and vacuum floors; wipe down bathroom and kitchen counters; clean the inside and outside of appliances; put a little vanilla extract on light bulbs, and place neutralizing odor eliminators around the house.
3. Think about staging the property
   Help potential renters see themselves living in the space by staging a rental property. This also allows them to see what type and size of furniture will work best in each room. Easy ways to stage a property include turning on the lights, opening windows, baking cookies, and placing decorative pillows, flowers, and candles on benches, couches, chairs, and beds.
4. Landscape the front and back yards
   This is the first thing that your guests will see, so easy things like mowing the lawn, hosing off windows, hanging flower baskets, and taking time to fill in any holes are great ways to ensure that potential renters like what they see.
5. Give a specific time and date
   Stating a specific time for an open house, like 3 p.m. as opposed to a range like 3 to 5 p.m. creates more urgency and encourages visitors to come early rather than risk showing up 20 minutes late. 
6. Follow up with any previously interested applicants
   Send a quick email or text to potential renters who have reached out previously to let them know about the open house. 
7. Have property flyers ready
   Set flyers in the living room or kitchen that include key features and high-quality photos of the property along with your name, email address, and phone number.
8. Have applications accessible
   Make it easy for an ideal potential renter to fill out an application. Have a tablet handy for online applications or make paper rental applications available. This can also be an excellent time to go over the basic terms of the lease, including duration, move-in-date, pet policy, rent, and deposit.

Setting up an Open House at an Occupied Rental Property

Having an open house at an occupied rental property is possible, but does require some additional steps, including:  

1. Ask what time is convenient for your tenant
   Talk with your current tenant about possible times that will work for both of you. Ideally, the current tenant won’t be present for the open house, so finding a time that they can be away from the property is preferred.
2. Offer an incentive
   Consider giving your current tenant a discount on the next month’s rent or a gift card for a local restaurant as a thank you for working with you and as an incentive to help get the property ready for the open house. 
3. Adhere to posted open house Hours
   Since you will be asking your current tenant to vacate the property for the open house, it’s essential to be respectful of the tenant’s time by starting and finishing the open house on time. 

Landlord Etiquette for an Open House

You’ve taken time to get your rental property ready and promoted your open house well. Now, make sure you make a great first impression on every guest who walks through the door. A few helpful tips: 

1. Be aware of your rental property’s selling points
   Take time to plan how you’ll take potential applicants through the property and  decide on what features you want them to see. Some things to point out may include included utilities; air conditioning; extra storage areas, like closets, sheds, and basements; any applicable pet accommodations; and outdoor areas for relaxing, entertaining, cooking, and gardening.
2. Know what you’re willing to negotiate on 
   While it would be ideal if all tenants were perfect tenants, that’s seldom the case. Don’t make the mistake of immediately skipping over an otherwise good tenant simply because he or she doesn’t meet certain requirements. Take time to decide what policies are non-negotiable and which ones you are willing to negotiate on, such as flexible move-in dates, allowing certain types of pets for an extra deposit or monthly fee, or having designated smoking areas.
3. Talk with prospective tenants
   While applications, background checks, and pulling credit reports are great ways to screen potential renters, an open house allows you to talk with them in person. Take this time to talk with them and gather some information on their current living situation, what they’re looking for in a rental property, if they have pets, and when they will be ready to move.

An open house is a great way to meet potential tenants and let them see your rental property. Zumper provides a great way to advertise your property while helping you to screen tenants to fill any vacancies.