Run the air conditioning!

Avoid them. In the summer open houses work in high traffic areas but most people are out enjoying themselves, a true home buyer will look online and set up a provate showing when they can see the home and not wait for an open house

Ask Christine Donovan about her ice cream truck open houses!

I don't do open houses, summer, spring, fall or winter... so sorry, no strategies from me. My strategy is not to hold open houses. My houses are open 24/7 on the internet.

Hi!  This is a great question & I'm following it for any comments or advice.  I am hosting my very first open house this weekend.  Super excited but nervous! :)

As a rep for Builders working model homes 5+ days a week for 20 years, I know what works. Summertime in an open house or model, your traffic will be down significantly, but your ratio of "real buyers" vs "lookers" greatly improves. In summer, it seems Saturdays from 11-2 are the best times of the weekend. People looking like to get out early, so they can then spend the afternoon and evenings for cookouts and events. I would encourage you to try Saturday's instead of Sundays, till Sept. If you want to take time off, Skip open houses in Aug. Too much competition from Vacations, back to school shopping and moving kids back to campus!

No

Have the A/C set to an appropriate temperature.

Have a Ice Cream truck out front, should draw people

Summer specific strategies?
In the land of endless summer, I would say I possess no summer strategy.

And yes, there are ways to have a dramatically successful open house but only if the property is a qualified open house candidate. Fifteen turns deep into the bowels of a gated community identifies a property that is NOT an open house candidate.

There are Five valid purposes for which an open house is well suited.

One valid purpose is 'Get More Listings' but that one must be the 1st open house and requires preparation, planning and a trained staff.

Another valid purpose is "SELL THE HOUSE" which requires the owner to empower the agent. Without this empowerment, the agent is just spending time.

Collaboration is aways a good strategy that expands the prospect pool dramatically for those other valid open house purposes.

Having a valid purpose is what creates the difference between those who say "Don't do it" and those who say, "There are few options more cost effective and client rich than what is created by a purposed open house."

make sure the air conditioning is working properly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No I do not sorry

Not doing them and putting the time & energy into my database marketing and relationships instead. I get more referrals & business from my database in one year than all the open houses I've ever done combined.

Andy Fulton Open house strategies are pretty much local. Talk with other agents you have had successful open houses in your area.

plenty of signs and water to give out

Nothing different as it's always summer here.

Realistically, with virtual tours, videos, etc., open houses are becoming less and less important from a servicing the sellers point of view. I understand many agents use it as a prospecting tool.

I stopped doing them because nothing was working. It's better suited for a large city with dense population.

I do not consider the seasons when doing open houses..the same preparation is always done..I'm also looking for future listings and neibors and others in the community do come in to see how I'm representing my seller and what information I have out. I often get listing appointments at my open house.

The buyer is busy and can't make the two hour window for entry so do videos that show and tell around the clock. On their time frame and to re-tour over and over which builds desire, gets results. And save you time in the matchmaking of properties.. the buyer filters out the don't waste my time listings. 

Proper preparation is always "in season".   

Andy Fulton sure - work more hours! 

Serving popsickle or ice cream....

I am not a fan of Open Houses but occasionally will do one. Make sure the house is a great temperature if the weather is warm. Advertise just as I normally would. Here, because the beach is so popular, I would run later in the afternoon rather than prime beach time!! Sorry but we love beachtime in the summer

No. I am not a fan of open houses.  If I were ... strategy would be the same during non summer seasons. 

The same good practices that work in the spring, winter and fall work in the summer with the  exception you could have a summer, hot weather or holiday theme and light refreshments around the pool.

     If you are in a resort area, beach town, etc. then play up the holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day). 

I team up with a local vendor, i.e. a painting company and have them hold the open house with me. The vendor pays for a gift card or something of value that we raffle off. People have to come to the open house to enter and fill out a property survey. The vendor gets additional exposure, the raffle generates excitement and the feedback from the surveys are a perfect way to show the sellers that you're doing something to market their property.

I don't do many open houses.

Lots of signs, and as Marte Cliff would write - Enthusiasm!

Scott Godzyk nailed this one!

Curb appeal, mow the lawn.

Inside, have the air conditioning on, or a fan running if no air conditioning.

Planning in advance should be suffice when hosting an open house regardless of the specific season.

It mostly depends on what is available and what my clientel is at the time

Follow the suggestions provided by Barbara Todaro. 

Open houses are for what you make them at anytime of the year. If the idea is to get listings from neighbors then have you action plan ready.

Plan in advance, seasons are irrelevant.  A

Not a fan of open houses so I don't do them!

Price to sell and you wont have spend any extra time whatsoever....