Attention Realtors: Time to Spice up Your Open Houses!

Every weekend, buyers head to a slew of open houses, but rarely do they ever make an offer on the properties they see at these events. To enhance the success of the open houses you host, you need to make your properties more memorable in the minds of visitors. To do this, you need to get creative and spice up your open houses.

One way to liven up your next open house is to give it an exclusive, VIP feel. Have valet parking for your guests and a hostess to greet people and take their coats. String twinkle lights around the patio or front door to create sparkle and warmth, and serve caviar with cheese and sparkling wine or non-alcoholic beverages. Place lots of battery-operated tea lights* throughout the house to enhance the mood (*battery-operated tea lights are much safer than traditional candles, but still flicker and glow like the real thing). This theme works particularly well in the evening, as it adds an upscale atmosphere to the event, and allows buyers to see what it's like to spend an extended period of time in the home.

If you're holding an open house on a weekend afternoon, you should expect to have a few kids in attendance who are sure to get bored quickly. To keep them entertained and out of their parents' hair while they tour the property, get a babysitter to keep an eye on the children. He or she could do face painting or simple crafts in a spare room while the adults discuss things like price and square footage.

Another fun idea is to hire palm readers or psychics to entertain your guests. This kind of thing isn't related to real estate, but it serves to make your open house an event that stands out in people's minds. Visitors will talk about the open house for days afterwards, prompting others to ask where it was held. Word of mouth is a great form of advertising, and in this case it might lead to a potential buyer.

Raffles are becoming popular as an incentive for visitors to stick around a while, and to create buzz at an open house. Visitors who sign the guestbook are also more likely to write down their actual contact information if they stand the chance of winning something. This means you can follow-up with them later to get their feedback on the house.

If you'd like to do something fun but also meaningful, you could arrange to have a raffle or bake sale with proceeds going to a local charity.

Having a home stager or interior designer on hand is another great idea. They can be available to point out the home's potential to buyers who are on the fence about its appeal.

Purchase water bottles and candy bars that you can get pictures and vital stats of the home printed on the label. This will give your visitors something to take with them when they leave.

Something else they can take with them is a real estate report. Prepare a full report on the home, including a layout of the floor plan and lot dimensions. You should also include the certificate of appraisal, as well as the findings from the property's most recent home inspection. Make sure to add good quality photos, listing details, and your contact information. After people have toured the house, give them a copy to take with them. These reports will give visitors tangible facts to consider, and make the house seem like a viable buying option.

With a little ingenuity, you can turn your open house into an unforgettable and fun event. Make your visitors laugh, and give them all the facts they need to make the house a contender in their eyes. They'll appreciate your efforts, and will be much more inclined to seriously consider putting in an offer. Voila, open house success!