Open House Sign-In App with a QR Code: How to Set It Up

How QR code sign-in works

The QR code points to a web page for that specific open house. When a guest scans it, the page opens in their phone browser with a short form: name, email, phone, and whether they are already working with an agent. No app download is needed.

Each submission is stored right away, so you can see sign-ins during the event and follow up the same day.

Setting it up step by step

In ShowTheHome the open house page and its QR code are created together:

1. Create a free agent account and save your branding.
2. In the Studio, choose Open House and enter the property address.
3. Confirm the facts and photos, then publish the page.
4. Open the print view and print the QR sign for the entry table.
5. During the open house, guests scan the code and sign in on their own phone.

Where to put the QR code

Place the printed sign at eye level near the entry, ideally next to a small tablet or your own phone for guests who prefer not to use theirs. A second copy in the kitchen catches people who walked past the first one.

Print large enough that the code scans from an arm's length away, and test it with two different phones before guests arrive.

What to ask guests

Keep the form short. Every extra field lowers the number of people who finish. Name, email and phone cover follow up. Asking whether they already work with an agent helps you respect existing relationships and decide how to follow up.

Tell guests why you are asking. A simple line such as asking them to sign in so you can send updates about the home is enough.

Make the page useful for guests too

A sign-in form alone gives guests nothing back. The open house page works better when it also shows the property: photos, confirmed facts, a short description and your contact details. Guests who scan the code can keep the page on their phone and revisit it later, which makes your follow up feel like a continuation instead of a cold call.

Include the open house date and time on the page and on the printed sign, so anyone who sees the sign before the event knows when to come back.

Running the day of the open house

Arrive early enough to test the QR code with your own phone on the home's network and on cellular data. Some homes have weak reception in certain rooms, so place the sign where the signal is reliable.

Greet guests first and mention the sign-in second. Most people are happy to scan a code once they have been welcomed, and very few will skip it when you explain that you will send them updates about the home.

Keep an eye on new sign-ins during the event. If a guest notes they are not working with an agent and lingers in a particular room, that is a good moment for a short conversation.

Common mistakes to avoid

A few small issues cause most QR sign-in problems:

1. Printing the code too small or on glossy paper that reflects light.
2. Linking to a general website instead of the page for this open house.
3. Asking for too many details, which makes guests give up halfway.
4. Waiting several days to follow up, when guests no longer remember the home.
5. Keeping sign-ins in several places, which makes follow up inconsistent.

Privacy basics

Guest details are personal information. Store them in one place, only use them to follow up about real estate, and do not share them without permission. In ShowTheHome, open house sign-ins go to the agent's private inbox and are not visible on the public page.

Hosting an open house for another agent

Newer agents often host open houses for a colleague's listing. The QR sign-in still works well, but agree ahead of time on who owns the follow up. Many listing agents ask that guests interested in the home be routed back to them, while guests looking for other homes stay with the hosting agent.

Writing that agreement down before the event avoids awkward conversations later and makes sure every guest gets one clear follow up instead of two competing ones.

Following up after the open house

The best follow up happens the same day. Send a short thank you, the listing link and an offer to answer questions. For guests who said they already have an agent, a polite thank you is enough.

If you use a CRM, export your open house sign-ins to CSV from the activity page, or connect a webhook such as a Zapier Catch Hook so new sign-ins arrive in your workflow automatically.