Question 1

What is Openhouso?

Accepted Answer

Openhouso is a free open house coverage marketplace that connects listing agents who need their open houses hosted with buyer agents who want verified, in-person buyer leads. Listing agents post open houses that need coverage, host agents claim them, and both sides benefit — listing agents get professional coverage and automated seller reports, host agents meet motivated buyers face-to-face.

Question 2

Is Openhouso free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The core marketplace is completely free for both listing agents and host agents. There are no subscription fees, per-listing charges, or commissions taken from either side. Openhouso makes money through optional premium features and vendor sponsorships, not from your leads or transactions.

Question 3

How does open house coverage work?

Accepted Answer

A listing agent posts an open house with the property details, date, time, and their preferred coverage model (open opportunity or referral-back). A host agent browses available open houses, finds one they want to host, and claims it. The listing agent is notified instantly. At the event, buyers sign in via a QR code on their phone. The host agent receives real-time lead alerts, and the listing agent gets an automated seller report afterward.

Question 4

What is the difference between Open Opportunity and Referral-Back?

Accepted Answer

Open Opportunity means the host agent keeps 100% of any leads and buyer-side commission from the open house — the listing agent just wants free coverage. Referral-Back means the listing agent wants a percentage (typically 20-35%) of the buy-side commission if the host agent converts a lead from that open house into a closed transaction.

Question 5

Do buyers need a buyer-broker agreement to attend an open house?

Accepted Answer

No. Under the NAR settlement rules that took effect in August 2024, buyers are NOT required to sign a buyer-broker agreement to attend an open house. Open houses are explicitly exempt from this requirement. This makes open houses the single best place for agents to meet unrepresented buyers who are actively shopping for homes.

Question 6

How do I meet unrepresented buyers?

Accepted Answer

Host an open house through Openhouso. When buyers sign in via the QR code, they indicate whether they are currently working with a real estate agent. Unrepresented buyers are flagged with a prominent badge in your lead dashboard and in the real-time notification you receive. You can follow up immediately — speed to lead matters.

Question 7

What is the QR sign-in and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

Every open house posted on Openhouso gets a unique QR code. The host agent displays this QR code at the property. When a buyer scans it on their phone, they see a simple mobile form: name, phone, email, whether they have an agent, and optional feedback. No app download or account creation is needed. The host agent receives an instant email and SMS with the lead details the moment a buyer signs in.

Question 8

What is the automated seller report?

Accepted Answer

After an open house, Openhouso automatically generates a seller report for the listing agent. It includes total visitor count, how many visitors are unrepresented versus represented, individual feedback comments, and a clean, branded layout you can forward directly to your seller. It demonstrates that your marketing is generating real traffic and interest.

Question 9

Is my data safe on Openhouso?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Openhouso uses Supabase for authentication and database hosting with row-level security enabled on every table. Buyer sign-in data is only visible to the host agent and the listing agent for that specific open house. We do not sell or share personal information with third parties. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Question 10

What areas does Openhouso cover?

Accepted Answer

Openhouso launches in the Tampa Bay, Florida metro area covering eight counties: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota, Citrus, and Hernando. We plan to expand to additional Florida markets and eventually nationwide.

Question 11

Can I use Openhouso with my CRM?

Accepted Answer

Direct CRM integration (such as Follow Up Boss or KvCORE push) is planned for a future release. For now, you receive each lead via email and SMS in real time, and you can manually add them to your CRM. The lead data includes name, phone, email, and representation status.

Question 12

How do I get notified when someone claims my open house?

Accepted Answer

You receive both an email and an SMS the instant a host agent claims your open house. The notification includes the host agent's name and brokerage so you know who will be representing your seller at the event.

Question 13

What if no one claims my open house?

Accepted Answer

Your open house stays visible on the marketplace until the event date passes. You can share the link directly with agents you know, or post it in agent Facebook groups and networking channels. As the Openhouso community grows, claim rates will increase.

Question 14

Do I need to be a licensed agent to use Openhouso?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Openhouso is a platform for licensed real estate agents. You need an active real estate license to create an account, post open houses, or claim open houses to host.

Question 15

How does the host represent the seller at the open house?

Accepted Answer

The host agent acts as a sub-agent or cooperating agent for the listing agent during the open house. The QR sign-in form includes a disclosure statement informing buyers that the host represents the seller. This is standard open house practice and complies with state real estate regulations.

Question 16

Can I rate a host agent after the open house?

Accepted Answer

Yes. After an open house is marked as completed, the listing agent can leave a star rating and written review for the host agent. These ratings help other listing agents choose reliable, professional hosts.

Frequently Asked Questions