The arrival of Springs kicks off the largest annual residential real estate exchange in the United States. Open houses are as much a part of this ritual as cherry blossoms, the best Saturday or Sunday, and freshly cut lawns. While good food won’t sell a tired mid-century ranch, having food and drinks can make some buyers stick around longer and provide a quick boost for tired homebuyers who walk a lot, climb stairs, and are on the go. out of transportation viewing potential properties. I have also tested them in the field with real estate agents at broker open houses.

Mark Nash, author of 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home (2005 Thomson Publishing) offers his readers and viewers some tried and true menu items for residential real estate public open houses. Open houses can be tricky for those who don’t entertain much, as the open house is one of the few times you invite guests to your home when you’re not there, but your real estate agent does. And if you entertain often, this is an event where you need to be careful about overdoing it. Luxurious Spreads Tell Savvy Home Buyers Desperate.

The basics.

-Forget about cutlery. If a guest at your open house needs to use silverware to graze at the open house buffet, the food is too picky.

-Set up an attractive food and drink station. Cut some flowers from your garden or buy some fresh seasonal flowers as a focal point. You can use a tablecloth, but make sure it’s not too formal. Quality disposable cups and plates are fine, buy some colorful ones that match the theme of the room. Place a waste container in a highly visible location adjacent to the station.

-Use cocktail-size napkins and plates. Smaller size plates and napkins send the signal that it is not a meal. It also helps control portion sizes so guests don’t feel like it’s a meal.

-Place some scented votive candles around the table to make it feel more special.

-Bottled water is essential. Guests on the go will appreciate the portable pick-me-up.

-Coffee is natural with home seekers. If you do not want to consume out of season, please do not provide covers and sleeves.

-Before your open house, ask your agent or visit other open houses in your community to see how many people attend. It is difficult to predict how many will be shown and what they will eat or drink. The weather and time of day will sullenly affect how little or how much you need to prepare.

-No alcohol. Open houses are business events. If people drink, they stay forever and forget why they came.

Ideas menu.

-Lofty Cranberry-Lemonade brand. A breakthrough that is always a success. Recipe field tested by the authors.

12 ounces of lemonade.

4 ounces blueberry cocktail

1 cup sliced ​​lemons

Cold mineral water to taste

Ice cubes

In a blender, combine lemonade and blueberry cocktail. Add cold mineral water to taste. Repeat the recipe until the quantity is reached. Garnish the entire amount with lemon wedges. I usually make 4 recipe batches or 64 ounces, eight and eight ounce servings.

-Brand high-rise hot chocolate. A twist on the old stand-by. Very favorable reviews from young and old.

4 cups whole or skim milk

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1 cup of mineral water

1/4 cup of sugar

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract.

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

1/4 of teaspoon of ground nutmeg.

In a medium saucepan, combine water, chocolate, and sugar. Stir while cooking over medium-low heat until the chocolate melts. Add the vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Remove from heat, do not boil. Beat until frothy. Makes 6 six-ounce servings.

-Brand turnkey turkey roll-ups. Portable and easy to eat with one hand. Healthy too.

1-8 ounce package light cream cheese, softened.

cup light sour cream

1 teaspoon prepared mustard

Teaspoons dead basil leaves

8 to 10-inch flour tortillas, warmed

8-1 ounce sliced ​​turkey breast

1-10 ounce package broccoli salad mix

8-1 ounce provolone cheese, sliced

1/2 cup green onion thinly sliced

1/2 black olives sliced

Combine cream cheese, mustard in small bowl, mix on medium speed, scrape bowl until smooth. Add the basil. Place slices of provolone cheese on the tortilla. Spread 1/4 cup of the batter over each tortilla almost to the edge over the provolone cheese. Combine the broccoli salad, onions, and olives in a bowl. Place turkey on top of cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle broccoli salad mixture over turkey. Roll tightly; Secure with toothpick. To serve, cut each roll into thirds. Place a toothpick in each third to hold them together. He does them up to four hours in advance. Makes 24 roll-ups.

-Marks Condo Chocolate chip raisin cookies. The bread and butter from the open house meal.

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, melted

3/4 cup white granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

4 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 tablespoon of milk

2 large eggs

2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate morsels

1 cup of grapes

Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Pure butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Add the eggs, beat well after adding them; Add the flour mixture little by little. Add the milk and beat for a minute. Add the snacks and raisins. Drop a round tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake in 375 degree oven for nine to eleven minutes, cookies should be golden brown. Makes 24 cookies.

Additional features

-Individual bags of corn, potatoes or chips the size of a snack. No sauces please, it saves you the drops.

-The new ready-to-use chilled eight-ounce soda cans.

-Washed whole fresh fruit. Choose varieties that do not need to be peeled or cut.

-Miniature wrapped candy bars. A home run on open house.