Open House catering is a broker’s secret to real estate success. By providing tasty treats at an open house reception, brokers invite potential buyers in and hook them with delicious giveaways. So why should you cater an open house and what kind of catering options are available for brokers in the Los Angeles area? Read on to find out!

Have your real estate business stand out with one of our popsicle carts.

What is an Open House?

An open house is a real estate opportunity that is not to be missed! Open houses are occasions where sellers welcome potential buyers into the home for a few hours. Visitors can come and go freely, look around, and discuss the property without an appointment.

There are two types of open houses: buyer open houses and broker open houses.

Broker open houses allow property owners to find a real estate agent to help sell the place. Once sellers have a real estate agent, the broker may choose to stage an open house for potential buyers.

Brokers may also host open houses in order to meet potential new clients who are looking for representation.

Benefits of an Open House

There are many potential benefits of hosting an open house. First of all, rather than constantly getting the property ready for multiple showing appointments, it’s much easier to schedule a few hours one day where people can come by and take a look.

That way you and the owners don’t have to worry about keeping the home immaculate and adapting your schedule to accommodate visitors.

Plus, when potential buyers see other people coming and going who are interested in the property, it can motivate people to express their interest or make an offer!

Another benefit of hosting an open house?

Meeting people who are interested in broker representation!

Brokers may be able to capitalize on the open house’s stunning display by making connections that lead to future clients.

By showing people who walk in how brokers go above and beyond for their clients, they can make a good impression that leads to future business relationships.

This is a form of experiential marketing, where business owners immerse potential clients in an engaging experience and sell them on it. Experiential marketing can be a helpful strategy in building a base of clients!

When Should You Host Your Open House?

The best time to stage an open house is on a weekend or holiday, when potential buyers are most likely to be off from work. That way, more people will be free to come take a look at the property.

Typically open houses are hosted soon after a property is listed so brokers can assess interest in the property and its price. Once you’ve set a price and put the property on the market, it’s time to start preparing the open house.

How to Stage a Successful Open House

When putting on an open house in the hopes of selling a property, there are a few important things to keep in mind:

Make the home look nice (The first step in an open house project is staging the home. This means working along with the current owners to declutter and present the best version of the space to potential buyers. Update the lighting fixtures in the property, make some subtle design changes, and ensure the place looks homey and appealing.

This might mean rearranging furniture in the living room or piling pillows up on the bed. The goal is to show potential buyers what their future home could look like and help them imagine a life in the space. Have a professional photographer take pictures of the staged home to put in open house ads.)

Show off the best the home has to offer (Is there a pool and lovely garden area in the home you are listing? A delightful view of the waves off Manhattan Beach from the balcony?

A short walk to the Hermosa Beach pier? Make sure to highlight these features when bringing visitors around an open house. Play up the cozy fireplace or kitchen island--any parts of the home that make the property unique and desirable.)

Get the word out (Another important step in the open house process is making sure it is properly advertised. Use social media channels to announce the event, disperse ads with professional photos, or create a private list of contacts to reach out to and invite to take a look. Make sure to create professional signage to display, too!)

Be ready with information (Of course, when opening your doors for potential buyers to come in, it’s important to be prepared with all the information they might need on the property.

Make sure you are rock solid on all the specs, home features, neighborhood information, and anything else someone who is interested in living in that area might ask about.)

Consider a unique theme (Another fun way to attract more potential buyers is to stage the open house around a theme. This could be “family fun” for a house that is ideal for families, or perhaps a carnival-themed open house with fun popsicle cart catering.

These are tricks to attract a certain kind of potential buyer and make the experience fun beyond the basics of showing off a property.)

Offer an experience (Play some fun music and fill the house with aromas from scented candles or catered food to appeal to all the senses.

Remember the feeling you are trying to encourage in potential buyers--whether that’s coziness, style, security, or joy. Another way to boost an open house experience is by offering food or drink. Your excellent hospitality will make potential buyers feel more at ease.)

Why Should a Real Estate Agent Cater an Open House?

The goal of any open house is to showcase what makes a property unique and generate enough interest to spark a bidding war. Also, open houses are a chance to market a real estate business. The best way to achieve these goals is to make sure that people who walk in feel at home. With open house catering, you can provide food to potential buyers which helps them feel welcomed into the space.

Not only can this help encourage people to stay inside longer, but it also can become an attraction of its own, luring people in to check out the property and leaving them with a positive image of the space in their minds.

Agents, remember that people walking into open houses may need to sell their houses before buying a new one and may not be represented yet.

This is your opportunity to show them how much effort you will put into marketing their home, too! Therefore, instead of picking up trays of food or snacks, make the decision to cater the event. This allows you to look professional and polished, while also taking some of the stress off of planning the event!

What Kind of Catering Should You Have at Your Open House in Los Angeles?

When catering an open house, it’s important to provide food that is well-liked and accessible to all. This means avoiding items that may contain allergens or foods that are too complex and may turn people off. You will want to provide something that is easy, inviting, and fun, too! Here are a few options for open house catering in Los Angeles:

Appetizers (Bite-sized snacks and hors d’oeuvres that are simple and delicious. This could be a charcuterie board or passed appetizers. Make sure you look for food that can sit out for a while or be easily replenished over a period of a few hours.)

Beverages (Even something as simple as a coffee bar or cooler full of lemonade is inviting, easy, and will entice people to walk inside! Offer respite from the heat of the day with cool drinks or warmth on a cooler afternoon by providing hot beverages.)

Desserts (Desserts are the most fun option for open house catering. By providing guests with sweet treats, you encourage fun and indulgence while making visitors feel right at home.

This fills the air with a sweet aroma, is simple to provide and fun to enjoy. (Plus, you’ll be an instant favorite with the kids!)

Dessert Catering For Open Houses

Dessert catering for open houses is a tasty and fun way to welcome people into a listed property. Sweet treats inject some fun and personality into an open house, which sets the event apart. Desserts are a great go-to for open houses because they can be colorful, fun, and appealing to a wide range of tastes. It gives potential buyers something to be excited about when they come inside. That way, they’ll leave and associate the property with all things sweet and pleasurable. Winning over the kids with popsicles and artisan ice cream is never a bad idea at a family-friendly property either!

Dessert Catering Options

While baked goods or catered cakes are certainly a possibility, in Southern California, which enjoys warm weather year-round, cold dessert catering is definitely a good idea. We’re talking about mouthwatering chilly treats that are cool on the tongue, pretty to look at, and nice to eat. Here are some ideas for cold sweet eats you can cater your open house with.

Gourmet Popsicles

Who doesn’t love popsicles? Those fun, fruity, refreshing reminders of childhood and everything that is good about the world? Gourmet popsicles take these frozen treats to a new (and adult appropriate level) by incorporating organic ingredients and cold pressed juices into intentionally crafted freeze pops. These are the perfect sweet treats to cater your open house. They’re inviting and refreshing, something to look forward to! The other great thing about gourmet popsicles? They are Instagram-ready and cute enough to add to the aesthetic of the space!

Some of the fun flavors available include:

Dark Belgium Chocolate Sea Salt (rich, decadent, oh-so sophisticated)
Lemon Cheesecake with Pomegranate Reduction (we told you they were gourmet!)
Russian Pear (juicy, sweet, refreshing)

Boozy Popsicles

Boozy popsicles provide some adult fun in a healthy, delicious package. Each popsicle is infused with alcohol for a little fun kick. Some of the mouthwatering flavors include:

Peach Bourbon (comforting, warming from the inside out!)
Sauvignon Blancsicles (St. Germain Elderflower provides tropical notes and suggests honeysuckle, a perfect complement to sauv blanc!)
Mai Tai Cold (a tropical favorite)

Serving Alcohol at an Open House

Yes, it is possible to serve alcohol at an open house without a liquor license. As long as it is not an event classified as “open to the public,” you are legally allowed to provide alcoholic items. The easiest way to ensure that you don’t fall under this classification is to host a “twilight open house,” where an agent invites a select group of people to visit during the evening. That way, the open house stands out from the crowd of open houses as an exclusive event and allows visitors to enjoy special adult treats legally! Plus, boozy popsicles are a classy way to serve alcohol.

Hosting a twilight open house? Our boozy popsicles will make all the difference. ;-)

Ice Cream and Gelato

Gourmet ice creams and gelatos are a great way to cater to adult palettes while also providing a much-needed dose of fun. What pairs better with an open house at a beautiful property in Hermosa Beach than a scoop of creamy goodness?

Some of the sophisticated flavors available are:

Olive Oil with Pepper (savory gelato is an unexpected delight!)
Lemongrass Basil (Asian flair for a new twist on ice cream)
Cranberry and Vanilla Bean (cranberry takes this classic to a new level)

Plus, there are simpler, kid-friendly flavors available, too, so you can impress families!

Vegan Gelato

Artisan vegan gelato is a great way to accommodate all dietary restrictions in your open house catering. Elegant gelato flavors are combined with vegan-friendly ingredients that are delicious, specially-crafted, and an unexpected treat! Fun for an open house in Redondo Beach.

How to Stage Sweets at an Open House

When you make the move to invest in dessert catering for your open house, part of the fun is setting up a display of sweet treats. Place a table at the entrance to the space and welcome visitors in with popsicles of every color. Or invite potential buyers into the kitchen for scoops of catered ice cream and place bowls of colorful sprinkles and other enticing toppings on the counter.

Beach Town Pops

Beach Town Pops makes it simple to cater an open house with sweet treats. With a wide range of available treats to suit any clientele, these will be your new go-tos for real estate events!

From upscale ice cream and gelato flavors to juicy popsicles and booze-filled treats, our menu has plenty of options for your open house dessert catering in the Southbay area of Los Angeles! Plus, full catering services means no hassle, making this the easiest decision you’ll have to make in the open house process. Thinking about staging an open house and deciding to provide sweet treats?

Fill out our catering inquiry form today and take the next step towards the most fun open house ever!

A Guide to Open House Catering in Los Angeles