I was just watching CNBC and they remarked about how this Sunday there would be a heat wave throughout the nation. 98 in Chicago, 96 in NYC and 105 in Montana.

This got me thinking about the potential buyers that would be out and about on Sunday going from open house to open house. So how do we get them to your open house in this heat and actually have them enjoy themselves?

Why not Stage the back yard to make it a cool and comfortable retreat in their quest for the perfect house! If there is not much of a backyard, Stage a balcony, porch, sunroom or maybe just a cool spot in the home.

Here are some tips:

• Have some beverages ready for your visitors. Bottles of water, soda, and iced tea. They will be very thankful. Even have some "kids cups" so they won't spill on the newly cleaned carpet.
• Set up a retreat where they can enjoy their drinks and rest for a little bit. Set up some chairs in the shade, under an umbrella or just around the kitchen table. This way they can rest and you can chat with them to learn about what kind of house their looking for.
• What about renting an icecream cart? Nobody can resist icecream on a hot day. Have bowls, plastic cups or even napkins made with your business card on them.
• Have some fun outdoor games for the kids to play with while the parents look through the home. Example: Hula Hoops, ring toss or even the plastic bowling games. The kids will tell the parents how much they loved that house!
• Give away mini fans..they're very inexpensive and you can attatch you buisness cards to them. A way for them to keep cool while they're looking.

What are some of your tips to holding an open house on a hot day?