On a Sunday afternoon a listed home unlocks its doors and invites any interested party to walk through without an appointment. That event is an open house. Agents use it to expose the property to a broad audience and to generate feedback and offers.

Sellers tidy the home and may leave during the event. Agents greet visitors, answer questions, and collect contact information. Open houses can attract serious buyers, curious neighbors, and other agents previewing the listing. Security precautions are wise because strangers will be walking through private space.

In strong markets open houses sometimes produce multiple offers. In weak markets they may yield little traffic. Virtual open houses and video tours have supplemented the traditional format. The goal remains the same: put the property in front of people who might buy it.

An open house turns a private residence into a temporary public showroom.