An open house is a great way to show off a home if you’re a realtor. You’ll have the opportunity to let a lot of people see it at once, rather than having to show it to each potential buyer one at a time. Before you open the door to potential home buyers, however, you’ll want to make sure the home is ready for its close up. Here are five tips that will help you prep for an open house.

1. Make the Home as Neutral as Possible

In order to get a potential homeowner to see the possibilities of the home, remove evidence of the current or former owners. This means removing family photos, certificates and awards, religious items, and anything else that indicates the personal life of the current homeowners. Potential homeowners want to be able to imagine their own identity in the home.

2. Dress Up the Entrance for a Good First Impression

Make a strong showing right from the beginning by giving the yard curb appeal and making the entrance warm and inviting. Suggestions you can make to the owner include adding potted plants, repainting the door, adding new hardware, or even new windows. A picturesque entrance will draw people inside.

3. Offer Refreshments

People will always show up for free food. You can go simple or extravagant depending on the home you’re showing and the audience you want to attract. Consider hors d’oeuvre trays or wine and cheese for something simple. For something larger you could hold a barbecue, hire a food truck, or an ice cream truck. Whatever you decide, food is a good icebreaker and a great way to get people inside.

4. Offer Potential Homeowners Information They Can Use

Potential homeowners may come to see the space, but there are a lot of things to consider that they cannot see in the house. These can include the character of the neighborhood, proximity to things like grocery stores, restaurant, and schools. Consider creating a fact sheet that will answer these kinds of questions. Include a list of restaurants, stores, schools, and other important amenities. You might also offer a page that gives them information about the home loan process, breaks down closing costs, and shows estimated monthly payments.

5. Get Other Agents Involved

Identify agents who have assisted in the purchase or sale of a home in the area and hold an agents-only open house. You can also coordinate with other agents to have an open house festival. All agents selling in the same area can hold open houses on the same day, with maps showing the location of the other open houses. You might also offer a prize drawing for potential buyers who make it to all of the houses.

Anything you can do to improve foot traffic to your open house can only increase the possibility of making a sale. Once you have people there however, you want to make sure that your house shines. Follow these tips and you can’t go wrong.