Best time for an open house in Canada: a data-driven guide for Realtors

The short answer

Best days of the week

Across Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal, Sunday open houses consistently outperform Saturday by a wide margin. Buyers treat Saturday as a scouting day — they see 3–4 homes, take notes, and sleep on it. Sunday is decision day. Visitors arriving on Sunday are more likely to be pre-approved, emotionally committed, and ready to write an offer by Monday.

Source: Aggregated MLS open house attendance data from Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, and Calgary Real Estate Board (2024–2025 season).

Best time slots by market

The 2:00–4:00 PM window is the undisputed peak across every major Canadian city. It captures both the after-lunch crowd and the pre-dinner window. In suburban markets with longer commute times, the window shifts slightly earlier; in dense urban cores, it extends later.

Weekday evening open houses

Weekday evenings (typically 5:00–7:00 PM on Thursdays) are gaining traction in competitive markets like Toronto and Vancouver. They attract a different buyer profile: dual-income professionals who can't tour on weekends, often pre-approved and working with a buyer's agent.

• Turnout is lower — expect 40–50% of a Sunday afternoon — but conversion to offer is often higher.
• Best in spring and fall when daylight lasts past 7:00 PM. Winter evenings see sharp drop-offs after 6:00 PM.
• Avoid Mondays and Fridays. Monday buyers are catching up from the weekend; Friday buyers have already mentally checked out.

Seasonal patterns across Canada

Canadian real estate is deeply seasonal. Spring dominates, but the exact timing varies by province and climate.

Provincial nuance

• Ontario (Toronto/GTA): Spring market starts in late February. Sunday 2–4 PM is the standard; deviating risks losing buyer agents who batch showings.
• British Columbia (Vancouver/Victoria): Milder winters mean a more active January market. Saturday 2–4 PM is almost as strong as Sunday.
• Alberta (Calgary/Edmonton): Spring market kicks off in March after the deep freeze. Earlier time slots (1–3 PM) work better due to family schedules.
• Quebec (Montreal): French Canadian buyers often prefer Saturday afternoons. Sunday open houses are less common in some neighbourhoods.
• Atlantic Canada: Smaller markets with tight-knit communities. Weekend afternoons draw the highest turnout; weekday evenings rarely work.

Weather: the hidden variable

Canadian weather can swing turnout by 30% in a single day. A sunny spring Sunday will outperform a rainy one significantly — but don't cancel. The buyers who brave the rain are typically the most serious.

• –15°C or colder: Expect 30–40% lower turnout. Shorten the window to 1–3 PM so visitors aren't walking in from the cold after dark.
• Heavy snow / freezing rain: Consider rescheduling to the following weekend unless the buyer pool is deep (new listings in hot neighbourhoods).
• Extreme heat (+30°C): Shift to 11 AM–1 PM or 5–7 PM. Buyers avoid midday touring in unairconditioned homes.

How timing affects lead capture

The best time for an open house isn't just about foot traffic — it's about lead quality. A Sunday 2–4 PM visitor is more likely to give you their real contact info, answer feedback questions thoughtfully, and respond to Monday follow-ups than a casual Saturday browser.

• Peak-window visitors convert to follow-up calls at 2× the rate of off-peak visitors.
• Sunday visitors are 40% more likely to write an offer within 7 days.
• Weekday evening visitors have the highest buyer-agent representation but the lowest direct-lead capture — they're often already committed to another agent.

This is why a fast, professional sign-in process matters most during your peak windows. If your sign-in sheet is slow, clunky, or paper-based, you lose leads at exactly the moment they're most valuable.

A practical weekly playbook

Final checklist before every open house

• Confirm the time slot matches local market norms (check competing listings)
• Check weather and have a backup plan for extreme conditions
• Verify daylight — in winter, 2–4 PM is borderline dark in northern latitudes
• Set up your sign-in sheet 15 minutes before the first expected visitor
• Prepare follow-up templates segmented by lead temperature (hot, warm, cold)
• Send thank-you messages within 2 hours for maximum reply rates