Open houses: some real estate professionals love 'em, other think they're a hassle. Ideally, your open house will draw a steady stream of potential buyers, producing offers and expanding your prospect list. But what if no one shows up? Or people do show up, but you don't get a single bid?

We think it's time to change the game a little. Consider throwing an open house party.

An open house party is, essentially, just an open house with better marketing (and probably better snacks). An open house party creates an event around your open house that highlights the listing's best features and draws the right crowd. It also opens you up to new prospects. Here's what you need to do to orchestrate the hippest home sale on the block:

Identify your listing's key selling points.

You already do this anyway, right? Now pick one you can build an event around. Does it have a nice backyard deck? That's perfect for a BBQ or sunset happy hour. Great family room? All the better for watching the game and serving up some snacks. The idea is to figure out who would want to buy this house and then select an open house party theme that will appeal to that particular market. Now we're not suggesting you throw a pool party with a DJ and designer alcohol, but it is an option!