Do open houses help sell a home faster?
Open houses can help — especially when used appropriately — but they’re not a magic button. They increase exposure and attract interest, yet by themselves they rarely guarantee a sale or dramatically accelerate time on market.
What an open house really does
An open house is a dedicated time when your home is open to the public — typically over a weekend — and potential buyers (and their agents) can walk through without scheduling an appointment.
For many sellers, an open house offers the opportunity to showcase the home to multiple interested people at once, rather than juggling a series of private showings.
That exposure can raise awareness beyond just active buyers — sometimes unrepresented buyers, local neighbors, even people casually browsing — which may expand your pool of potential offers.
Why open houses don’t always lead to quick sales
Despite the potential, data shows open houses rarely are the direct cause of a sale. According to recent industry analyses, only around 5% or fewer buyers report that they found the home they purchased through an open house or yard sign.
In other words: while many homes host open houses, the vast majority of sales happen through other channels — online listings, private showings, referrals, or agent networks.
And studies suggest that homes with open houses do not always sell faster or for higher prices than comparable homes with only private showings.
When open houses tend to pay off
That doesn’t mean open houses are always a waste. In certain situations they can offer real value:
- When your property is newly listed: An open house early — often the first weekend after listing — can generate buzz and attract early attention.
- In competitive or low-inventory markets: If buyers are actively searching and options are limited, an open house can increase the chance of a quick sale by enabling multiple showings in a single event.
- For easy access and convenience: Buyers may find it easier to drop by an open house than schedule private showings — especially those casually browsing or early in their search.
- To gather feedback and market interest: Even if no offer emerges directly, comments from visitors can help you or your agent identify things to improve — staging, minor repairs, pricing adjustments — which can accelerate a sale later.
Drawbacks: What you should consider
Open houses also come with potential downsides:
- Because many attendees are casual browsers or “looky-loos,” there’s no guarantee a serious buyer will appear.
- Hosting an open house requires effort: the home must be show-ready, cleaned, depersonalized, and you’ll likely need to leave the house while people tour it.
- Open houses do sometimes pose security and privacy concerns, since strangers stroll through your home.
- Because open houses rarely lead directly to offers, investing time and energy into them — especially multiple events — might delay rather than accelerate a sale if other marketing tactics (online listing quality, private showings, targeted outreach) are neglected.
How I use open houses strategically for my clients
As your REALTOR®, I don’t recommend open houses to every seller — but I do consider them a strategic tool, used selectively and in combination with a broader marketing plan. Here’s how I approach them on your behalf:
- I assess current market conditions in your neighborhood (inventory levels, buyer demand, comparable sales) before recommending an open house. If there’s plenty of demand and limited supply, an open house may help.
- I schedule open houses early in the listing period to maximize initial exposure, while interest is highest.
- I ensure your home is staged, decluttered, and show-ready so that any visitor — serious buyer or curious neighbor — sees it at its best (first impressions matter).
- I collect contact information from all attendees, even those not immediately interested, to build a broader lead pool (for you and for me). Sometimes a “no today” becomes a “yes later.”
- I combine open houses with strong online marketing (quality photos, virtual tours, compelling listing descriptions) and targeted private showings — because private showings remain the workhorse that almost always leads to actual offers.
My professional recommendation: use open houses — but wisely
Open houses can be a valuable component of a home-selling strategy — if used thoughtfully. They boost visibility, provide convenience, and can sometimes accelerate a sale, especially in active markets. But don’t expect an open house alone to sell your home quickly or guarantee a top-price offer.
Your best bet is a balanced approach: use open houses as one marketing tool among several, not as the centerpiece. Pair them with strong listing presentation, professional staging, robust online exposure, and agent-driven private showings.
If you’re ready to find out whether an open house makes sense for your property — given your location, price point, and market conditions — I can help you evaluate.
To get started, request a free home valuation today, text “HOME” to 651-706-6661. I’ll analyze recent comparable sales, current demand and help you choose the optimal strategy for selling your home quickly and for the best price.
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This post authored by Lana Kalinowski, REALTOR®, Edina Realty — serving Eagan and the Twin Cities.
