If you will be hosting or speaking at an open house, you may be wondering what you should say and what you should not say. While the exact open house wording is best determined by the occasion, there are some things that you should consider that may benefit you and the guests. These include the purpose of the open house and the audience. You also want to avoid using that time to tell people things they already know.
An open house is usually held for a specific purpose, such as to acquaint people with facilities, products, or services. It is important to keep this purpose in mind when deciding on the open house wording. This is especially true when you are likely to have a mixed interest crowd.
For example, if you are speaking at a university, you will probably have students and their parents in attendance. If the purpose of the event is to acquaint the guests with the campus, then you must realize that most of what you say should be aimed at the students. On the other hand, if the purpose of the open house is to acquaint the guests with the billing policies, you may want to formulate your opening words for the parents.
Even when all of your guests are likely to have similar interests, you should tailor the open house wording to fit the crowd. A real estate agent who has an open house for first time home buyers should not say the same things as she would at a general open house. Make your guests feel understood by addressing their special concerns or circumstances.
If it is your intention to generate interest in things other than what the guests believe they are present for, you should use the open house wording to make a subtle introduction. Some real estate agents, for example, have found that open houses are more effective in generating interest in properties other than in the one actually being shown. In such a situation, it is appropriate to make a quick reference to the availability of options. This does not mean, however, that you should go into a sales pitch for items that your guests have expressed no interest in.
Whichever open house wording you use, in most cases, it is best to keep it brief and informal. You may think people are expecting a lengthy presentation if they show up, but many people do not want to be subjected to long spiels where they are required to sit quietly and be attentive. Many would prefer a more interactive environment.
Do not include details that most of the crowd is likely to know already. If you find the need to make statements like “I’m sure you’re probably all aware…” then whatever follows should be excluded. You should provide information that is useful and engaging, such as major selling points and incentives.