Hosting an Open House? Don't Forget Your iPad

Refreshments, flyers, business cards--the list of open house necessities goes on. Does your list include an iPad or other tablet? If not, consider it incomplete.

Tablets are the Swiss-army knife of digital tools, and they can help agents wow potential buyers and capture more leads. Here's how.

1. Replace the Paper Sign-in Sheet.

Toss the paper and pen and let visitors sign in on your iPad. Mobile apps like Open Home Pro, BrightOpen, and AM Open House make this a snap. Even better, they simplify capturing lead information and automatically send follow-up emails to prospects. These apps can also sync with your CRM or export contact data.

2. Help Buyers Visualize Living in the Home.

Ever had visitors who love the kitchen but hate the wallpaper? Virtual reality apps like Paint Tester let prospects change the paint color of any room. Just snap a picture, pick the desired paint color, and voila--your potential buyers are one step closer to picturing themselves in your listing. Paint companies like Behr and Sherwin Williams offer similar apps.

Homestyler goes one step further. This app lets you show visitors how furniture, light fixtures, rugs, and items would look in the home.

3. Educate Prospects about the Neighborhood.

One of the top concerns of home buyers is the neighborhood they'll eventually live in. Luckily, with your tablet in hand, you'll have ample access to any information they need.

Our favorite real-life example comes courtesy of Realtor Nicole Nicolay, who displays printed copies of RPR's Neighborhood Report. "I piggyback on the information I provide in the reports, so when I'm be talking to prospective clients, I'll say 'Well, if you want more information about the neighborhood, this is an example of a Neighborhood Report that I can provide just to you.' Using her iPad, Nicole can send the report to the prospect immediately--and capture their contact information at the same time.

If you have prospective buyers who are more interested in the values of home in the area, just open augmented reality app HomeSpotter on your tablet and escort them outside. Next, point your device's camera at a nearby home to instantly see pricing and other property details. You can even schedule showing appointments right from the app.

What else do you use your iPad for? Are there any other tech tools or apps that are an indispensable part of your open houses?