The Best Time for Weekend Open Homes? Here’s What Actually Works
After running over 15,000 open homes as a team across the past decade, one of the most common questions we still get is:
“Should I run my open home on Saturday or Sunday? Morning or afternoon?”
The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all—but there is a smart way to approach it. Here’s what we’ve learned through real-world results.
Why One Day is (Often) Better Than Two
Many sellers assume they need both Saturday and Sunday open homes to cast a wider net. But more isn’t always better.
One of our most effective strategies is to choose one day only, and commit to it.
If a buyer asks for a private viewing during the week, we often schedule a 15-minute open home at the same time. This introduces competition naturally—no pressure needed. People see others interested and take it more seriously.
Doubling up on open homes across the weekend can actually reduce urgency. It spreads attention instead of focusing it.
Best Time of Day? 10 AM to 4 PM
In terms of timing, the sweet spot for open homes is between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
We’ve seen strong turnout at both ends—early 10 AM slots and late 3:30 PM ones. What matters most is not conflicting with your buyer’s real-life routines.
A few examples:
Family-oriented homes: Avoid Saturday mornings—weekends often start with kids’ sport commitments.
Busy roads: Don’t schedule open homes during peak traffic. Noise and congestion are dealbreakers.
Limited parking: If there’s a Sunday market or an event, avoid overlapping with those times.
Why Most Agents Go Midday—and Why You Shouldn’t
You’ll often find open homes set for 12:00 PM, smack in the middle of the day.
Why? It’s usually just habit. Most agents only have one or two listings and assume it’s what buyers prefer.
But we hear it all the time:
Buyers get frustrated trying to squeeze in five different homes at the same time. They’re rushed, stressed, and often miss out on properties they wanted to see.
By choosing earlier or later time slots, you give buyers breathing room—and your property gets the full attention it deserves.
Real Example: 4:00 PM Was the Winning Move
When I sold my own home, I picked a 4:00–4:30 PM Sunday slot. No other open homes were running then, so we had no competition.
It worked. We had a solid turnout, and buyers appreciated the extra time. Sometimes, just avoiding the crowd is your best strategy.
What to Take Away
Stick to one open home per weekend, not two
Schedule between 10 AM and 4 PM, based on your buyer profile
Avoid known disruptions: sports, traffic, parking issues
Don’t follow the crowd—especially when it comes to midday
Use private viewings + quick open homes to build organic competition
If you’re planning to go to market and want help picking your open home strategy, reach out. This isn’t theory—it’s what’s worked for us, time and time again.
Let me know if you want a shorter version for Instagram or a caption for a listing post.
