Open house sign-in sheet Excel layout

The spreadsheet should be easy to fill out. One header row, one row per visitor, and enough blank space for handwriting if it gets printed.

For a practical Excel layout, I would use these columns:

A spreadsheet makes it too easy to keep adding fields. I would not add broad personal questions, neighborhood preference assumptions, or anything unrelated to the visit.

HUD's Fair Housing Act overview lists protected categories including race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. The sign-in sheet should stay about contact details, property interest, agent status, and the next step.

If the spreadsheet is printed, the page needs larger rows than a normal office spreadsheet. Tiny cells look tidy on screen and fail at the open house table.

I would print fewer rows per page, keep the property address and date in the header, and leave enough space for real handwriting.

For a digital spreadsheet, dropdowns can help with agent status, interest level, and follow-up action.

For a printed sheet, dropdowns do nothing. Use simple column labels and move the cleanup work to the post-event step.

NAR says visitors who simply attend an open house on their own do not need a written buyer agreement just to tour.

That is why I keep the Excel sheet as a visitor record. Representation paperwork and brokerage disclosures belong in their own workflow.

I would put a QR sign-in card next to the printed spreadsheet. Visitors who scan give cleaner contact data, and the paper version still works when someone does not want to use their phone.

The FTC warns that QR codes can hide harmful links. Print the visible destination or short URL under the QR code so visitors can see where it goes.

After the open house, I would not leave the Excel file as the long-term system. It is too easy to lose context when there are multiple properties and weekends.

Move each useful row into the lead list with the property, date, visitor notes, consent status, and next action. That is where follow-up, CSV export, and seller activity notes become easier.