You drive past a house with a realtor’s sign out front, and you see the “Open House” placard. A few years ago, that probably meant a steady stream of visitors. Today, it could mean a realtor sitting alone for four hours, or it could mean a line of buyers waiting outside. It depends entirely on where in Canada that house sits. In Toronto and Vancouver, home prices have dropped at least 4% year-over-year, and open house traffic has slowed noticeably. In St. John’s, Newfoundland, prices are up 12% and multiple offers are common. The same tactic produces wildly different results depending on the city.
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This article is general information only and does not constitute professional advice. For your specific situation, consult a qualified professional.
National numbers suggest a market on pause. But that masks what’s happening on the ground. Cities in Quebec, Atlantic Canada, and parts of the Prairies are seeing stable performance and significant price growth, while Ontario and British Columbia continue to cool. The open house — once a standard weekend ritual — now reflects this split. Here’s what you actually need to know.
An open house is a scheduled period when a property is open for public viewing without an appointment. It’s a marketing tool, not a sales event — and its effectiveness depends heavily on market conditions, presentation, and timing.
What I tend to notice is that sellers and agents who treat open houses as a numbers game — more visitors equals more success — miss the point. The value is in the quality of the leads, not the quantity. One serious buyer is worth more than fifty browsers.
The Regional Divide: Which Markets Are Hot and Which Are Not
The fall housing data shows stark regional variations. Toronto and Vancouver saw prices drop at least 4% compared to last year, and open house activity has fallen off with sales. Meanwhile, Winnipeg, Quebec City, Montreal, and Regina are experiencing stable performance and significant price growth. Calgary, Edmonton, and Halifax show more moderate gains. St. John’s stands out with 12% year-over-year growth, low inventory, and multiple offers becoming common.
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| Region | Year-over-Year Price Change | Open House Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto & Vancouver | -4% or more | Low traffic, slow |
| St. John’s, N.L. | +12% | High traffic, multiple offers |
| Winnipeg, Quebec City, Montreal, Regina | Stable to significant growth | Steady to high traffic |
| Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax | Moderate growth | Moderate traffic |
| National average | -0.8% (March 2026) | Mixed |
This split affects more than just house prices. In a slow market, an open house costs the same in time and effort as in a hot market — but the return is lower. Sellers in expensive cities need to adjust their expectations. Buyers in growing markets should expect competition. The national forecast from CREA suggests 474,972 residential properties will trade hands in 2026, up 1% from 2025, with the national average price forecast to rise 1.5% to $688,955. But those national numbers hide the local reality. If you’re buying or selling, your local market matters far more than the national average. What I’d do is look at the immigration patterns in your city — they’re a strong signal of where demand is heading.
Three Mistakes That Kill Open House Results
Treating every open house the same regardless of market
In a slow market like Toronto, an agent might sit for four hours with no visitors. Martina Brankovsky, a Toronto realtor, described spending most of her time wondering how other agents’ open houses were faring. In a hot market like St. John’s, agents don’t need to be creative — buyers are already lined up. The mistake is using the same approach in both. If you’re in a slow market, you need to invest more in marketing, advertising well in advance, and creating a reason for people to come. If you’re in a hot market, you can focus on managing multiple offers rather than generating traffic. The fix is straightforward: know your local conditions before you plan the event.
Skipping basic preparation and presentation
Jim Burton of ReMax Infinity in St. John’s advises sellers to take care of painting and repairs before an open house, and to “put some buns in the oven and create a warm atmosphere.” It sounds simple, but many sellers skip these steps. A property that looks tired or smells stale will drive away buyers before they even look at the layout. The cost of a few repairs and a deep clean is small compared to the price of a home sitting on the market for an extra month. If you’re a seller, walk through your own home as if you’re seeing it for the first time. Fix what stands out. A fresh coat of paint in the entryway and a clean kitchen go a long way. For securing valuables during viewings, a digital safe gives you peace of mind without hiding things in closets.
Ignoring holiday weekend opportunities
Many agents skip open houses on holiday weekends, assuming no one will show up. But Tom Ikonomou, a Vancouver-based agent, points out that people visiting from out of town during holidays may have time on their hands and be looking to move closer to relatives. “If people are trudging through the snow to an open house during a holiday, then you know they’re serious about buying,” he says. The mistake is treating holidays as dead zones. The fix is to advertise the open house well in advance, target out-of-town buyers, and use the holiday as a selling point — a relaxed atmosphere where people can take their time. You might get fewer visitors, but the ones who show up are more likely to be qualified buyers.
How to Run an Open House That Actually Works in 2026
Before the open house: preparation and marketing
Start at least two weeks out. Advertise the open house on the MLS listing, social media, and local community boards. Make sure the property is clean, decluttered, and staged. Address any obvious repairs — peeling paint, loose handles, stained carpets. The goal is to remove any reason for a buyer to say no before they even walk through the door. Price the property realistically based on current market data, not what you hope it’s worth. Overpricing in a slow market will drive away the buyers who might have been interested. In a hot market, underpricing can generate competition. Either way, know your local comparable sales.
During the open house: creating the right atmosphere
Some agents in Calgary are taking open houses to the next level with live music, catered refreshments, and even an Aston Martin on display. You don’t need to go that far, but creating a welcoming atmosphere matters. Play soft background music, open curtains for natural light, and have a sign-in sheet for visitors. Use the opportunity to collect contact information for follow-up. If you’re worried about security during a busy open house, a video doorbell lets you monitor who comes and goes. For a more comprehensive setup, a DIY security system can alert you to any unexpected activity in rooms you’re not watching.
After the open house: follow-up and analysis
The open house isn’t over when the last visitor leaves. Follow up with everyone who signed in within 24 hours. Ask for feedback on the property and whether they’re interested in a private viewing. Track how many visitors showed up, how many requested a follow-up, and whether any made an offer. This data tells you whether your open house was effective. If you’re getting plenty of visitors but no offers, the price or presentation might be off. If you’re getting very few visitors, your marketing or timing needs work. The follow-up is where the real value of an open house is captured — a lead that doesn’t get followed up is a wasted opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Open Houses
Do open houses still work in a slow market? ▾
Should I hold an open house on a holiday weekend? ▾
What’s the best time of day for an open house? ▾
How many open houses should I hold before selling? ▾
What if no one shows up to my open house? ▾
Do open houses help the seller or the agent more? ▾
Where Open Houses Are Headed Next
The Canadian housing market is unlikely to become uniform anytime soon. The CREA forecast for 2027 shows national sales climbing 2.1% and prices edging up 0.9% to $695,094, but regional variations will persist. Open houses will remain a useful tool — but only for those who understand their local market. In a slow market, you work harder for every visitor. In a hot market, you manage the crowd. The agents who adapt their approach to the conditions they actually face, rather than the ones they wish they had, will get the most out of their open houses.
Remember: this article is general information only. For advice on your specific situation, speak to a qualified professional.
If this was useful, you might also want to read The Real Reasons Canadian Homeowners Are Selling and Downsizing.
Sources and Further Reading
Is Now the Worst or Best Time to Buy a House in Canada’s Unpredictable Market? — A deeper look at timing the market in different Canadian cities.
RealEstateMagazine.ca (2024). Open house trends defining Canada’s uneven real estate market. 🔗
Statistics Canada. Housing Statistics in Canada (Catalogue no. 4628-0001). 🔗
Canadian Real Estate Association (2026). A look into Canada’s housing market — Spring 2026. 🔗
