No. I am not hosting a party ... I am hosting an open house ... not there to feed people.  It's messy.  Kids tend to make food a free for all. A child could grab something they are allergic to and then ... well we know what comes next ... a lawsuit because I did not disclose the cookies had peanuts ... that puts me and the seller at risk.

we only provide food at Broker open house events....feed the agents and they'll come.... if they see it, they may just sell it!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Want to be a food purveyor, buy a cart or a restaurant! They are there to see the property!

Steve,

I agree with Barbara Todaro .  We did open house for large office spaces in our LA market and they were always catered.  Quite often, the caterer made the difference in number of agents showing up.  The most I would suggest for open houses would be sealed chilled water bottles.  I think that especially in CA where everyone has food preferences, that would be the neutral choice especially on a hot day.  A

Steve Snyder - no! You never know who has allergy of certain type of food.

I'm so with Kathleen Daniels on this one. NO food at public open houses!

As a new agent, I did. I quickly learned that I was a Realtor® not a caterer. I now do 1 hour open houses that have proved to be successful.

That can happen. We usually only offer cold water in pony bottles to avoid spills that can stain the interior floors and surfaces, I do not think anyone can expect any better unless a Broker's Open House.

We don't...hold open houses...

I did that once, and when one of the visitors spilled their drink (fortunately on a tile floor) I bypasses this little suggestion and never again

Most do not provide food. However, I like it when freshly baked chocolate chip cookies are offered. 

I always have water bottles since it is usually hot in here. Sometimes candies and cookies during holidays. 

Usually, I just provide brochures.

I do not provide and that way I have no accidents fo clean up or pay for

I don't do open houses. They don't work in my area. Although I would be concerned about serving them in a home, if the prospective buyers are walking around the house with them. Messes could happen. 

I used to but now it is bottled water and maybe some hard individually wrapped candies. People will take a water with them and sometimes a candy.

Never Steve. It makes a mess and does not sell homes. I spend my time on a good presentation, great photos, marketing and being able to answer questions.

I do not 

If it is a high end listing, it is tacky. If low end, not necessary. I meet & greet

I don't because I don't want the mess.  For broker's opens it is a requirement to get people to even show up (or a raffle prize).

Sometimes I bring small bottles of water, but not usually snacks because they end up making a mess in the house and keep the buyers from focusing on looking at the home.  Notepads go over well with all of my info printed on them.

McMuffins apparently were not the best choice for finger foods.    Make it a great weekend.  Mark

I typically provide bottled water.  There are agents who provide a catered meal and those who don't even turn on the lights during an open house event plus everything in between.  

Million Dollar,  Wine for sure.

At a public open house I do not provide food for the purpose of grazing.

There are other reasons for fresh chocolate chip cookies and apple pie.

What I do is anticipate that attendees will self-select. When that happens these attendees MUST be engaged. At that point I introduce them to the idea of the solution they indicated they needed, and sit them with a beverage, primarily to keep the from talking for the next 90 seconds.

Depending on the lifestyle being offered, it could a wine or cold water. Sorry, no coffee or sodas or tea. And definitely no vindiloo and nan.

As you might have recognized, you can not do a purposed open house alone.

Broker opens:  feed 'em & they will come.  If they see it they may sell it for you.

barbra has it right, brokers opens are diff, and DONT do this, dont restrict brokers from bringing buyers (yes some do that)

Steve - I would also agree with Barbara Todaro on this one.

Yes, both, but light. Water is good, especially on a hot day. I keep refreshments to cookies or candy. Tried other stuff, not worth it.

Don't do open houses, but if I did I wouldn't be serving snacks. That's not the purpose.

Steve, it depends on the house. Good question.

Whether the take anything or not, it's the gesture that counts.  Bottled water and some cookies are nice.  They can always be used at home if nobody takes advantage of them.  Make sure you bake your favorite cookies though! 

I only provide snacks at Broker Opens.

I did once, it was a distraction from what we were all there to do.

No

No.

Cater it.

They weren't hungry? 1M is not much for your area but it might come across as tacky in mine. 

In my experience and areas where I have worked, agents LOVE to go to open houses that provide refreshments and/or a catered luncheon. However, most buyers' open houses, I provide ice water and maybe cookies and that seems to suffice.

The viewers are not poor healthy and can skip freebies....

I have catered Broker Opens, had coffe trucks, ice-cream trucks and even the In & Out Burger Truck... and agree that is gets the agents out there to see the home but it's unbelievable how napkins and plates and other gems end up in some very odd places...on purpose?  Sometimes as we start the cleanup thoughts go to why  they did that.  Do they do that at their own homes?  The last time I provided those warm chocolate chip cookies at an Open House those wonderful chocolate chips ended up on the beautiful new carpet.  I sell homes...I don't serve food.  Just my preference and I will leave it at that.  I will go see homes for sale and caravan and never go for the food.  I applaud those that get better results than I do on this subject.