The Pre-Open Checklist: 10 Things to Check Before You Open

An open home starts well before the first buyer arrives. The sign out the front isn't the start of the process — it's the visible result of work already done.

Getting ready properly matters every time, not just for the first open of a new campaign. Familiarity with a property is often where small things get missed.

Why preparation matters

Buyers form an opinion before they understand the floor plan. A property that feels unready — clutter at the door, a stale smell, a sign that's hard to find — can undercut an otherwise strong campaign. Preparation isn't about creating a magazine shoot; it's about removing distractions so buyers can focus on the property itself.

What good preparation covers

A thorough pre-open routine touches a handful of distinct areas, each worth walking through deliberately rather than from memory.

Presentation and first impressions

Walk the property as a buyer would, from the street inward, rather than your usual route. Street appeal — lawns, paths, the letterbox, entry lighting — does a lot of the early selling. Inside, check for the everyday things that quietly undermine presentation: clutter, unmade beds, pet items, bins that need emptying, or furniture blocking a natural flow through the home.

Comfort — light, temperature and smell

Buyers experience a property as a feeling more than a list of features. Lights on in darker rooms, curtains opened where privacy allows, a comfortable temperature and fresh air all contribute. Heavy artificial fragrance tends to backfire — it can make buyers wonder what's being masked.

Safety and privacy

Loose rugs, cords, wet paths and blocked exits are hazards worth resolving before anyone arrives. Valuables, medication, personal documents and anything containing private information should be secured or removed. If conducting an open alone, standard safety practice applies: let someone know where you are, keep a clear exit path and follow your agency's procedures.

Access and signage

Test the actual path buyers will take — gates, doors, garages and any area included in the advertising — so nothing sticks, jams or requires an improvised explanation. Signage should be clean, correctly placed, matching the advertised time, and compliant with council and agency requirements. A buyer who cannot find the property may simply not bother calling.

Paperwork and buyer registration

Have accurate, current property information on hand — brochures, floor plan, contract details, inclusions and any disclosures — and know where to find anything you don't have memorised. Buyer registration, whatever system is used, should be tested and ready before the first arrival, with a clear, honest explanation of why details are being collected.

Common mistakes

• Relying on memory instead of a considered walk-through
• Masking smell instead of addressing the cause
• Leaving signage or access untested until buyers are already arriving
• Guessing at property facts rather than confirming them
• Being unprepared for basic buyer questions

The standard to aim for

The sign should only go out once buyers can find the property easily, the home presents cleanly and comfortably, hazards and private items are managed, the information you have is accurate, and registration is ready to go. A structured approach to getting there — and building it into a repeatable habit — is part of what's covered inside the program.

A checklist is useful. A checklist you can execute calmly under pressure is a professional skill.