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Open for inspection: how OFIs actually work in Australia

If you've spent any time on realestate.com.au or Domain, you've seen "OFI" next to a listing and a Saturday time slot. OFI stands for open for inspection, also called an open home. It's the window where a property is open for anyone to walk through, no appointment needed.

This guide covers what an open for inspection is, how they work from both sides, and how to run your own if you're selling privately or on a flat-fee platform.

What is an open for inspection?

An open for inspection is a scheduled, public viewing of a property that's for sale. Instead of booking a one-on-one appointment, buyers turn up during a set window (usually 15 to 30 minutes) and walk through at their own pace. Whoever is hosting (an agent, or you, if you're selling privately) is there to answer questions and note who came through.

Most properties run open homes through the marketing campaign, then stop once the property is under contract.

How OFIs work for buyers

If you're buying, open inspections are the easiest way to see a lot of homes quickly:

  1. Find the times. OFI slots are listed on the portal next to the listing, and on the listing's inspection planner. Times are usually Saturdays, sometimes a midweek evening.
  2. Just turn up. No booking needed for a standard open home. Arrive within the listed window.
  3. Register at the door. You'll be asked for a name and contact number. This is normal and required in most states for contact tracing and follow-up.
  4. Look properly. Open cupboards, check water pressure, look at the property boundaries, and note anything that needs work. Take photos if the host is happy for you to.
  5. Ask the real questions. Why are they selling, how long has it been listed, what's the preferred settlement, and is there any urgency.

If a property suits you but the open time doesn't, ask for a private inspection. Sellers will almost always accommodate a serious buyer.

How OFIs work for sellers

For sellers, the open home is where enquiry turns into offers. A few things matter more than people expect:

  • The first two weekends carry the campaign. Enquiry volume in the first 7 days is the single best predictor of your final price. Front-load your effort.
  • Presentation resets every time. The property should look the same on week three as it did on day one. Light, clean, decluttered, and warm.
  • Capture every visitor. Names and numbers at the door are how you follow up, gauge interest, and build a shortlist of likely buyers.
  • Read the room, not just the count. Ten browsers who leave in two minutes matter less than two buyers who linger and come back. Track who returns.

How to run your own open for inspection

Selling privately or flat-fee means you host the open home yourself. It's very doable. Here's the run sheet:

  1. Set the time. A Saturday 30-minute window is standard. Add a midweek evening slot if you're getting strong enquiry.
  2. List it on the portals. Your inspection time needs to show on realestate.com.au and Domain so buyers can plan their Saturday around it. helm publishes your OFI times to the major portals as part of your listing.
  3. Prep the property. Open blinds, turn on lights, fresh air through, no clutter, no pets underfoot. Secure valuables and anything personal.
  4. Greet and register. Welcome each person, capture their name and number, and let them move through at their own pace. Be available, not hovering.
  5. Follow up within 24 hours. A quick message to every attendee while the property is fresh in their mind is where private sellers win. Ask if they have questions and whether they'd like to make an offer.
  6. Move offers into a structured process. Collect offers in one place, side by side, rather than over scattered phone calls. This is where you protect your price.

Running your own open home is one of the parts of selling privately that sounds intimidating and turns out to be straightforward. You know your home better than any agent would.

The honest summary

An open for inspection is just a public viewing window, nothing more complicated than that. For buyers it's the fastest way to see homes. For sellers it's the moment that turns interest into offers, so presentation and follow-up are everything.

If you're selling privately, the practical questions are how you get your inspection times in front of buyers and how you handle the offers that follow. That's exactly what helm is built for: your listing and OFI times go to the major portals, and every offer comes back to one place so you can compare them properly. For the full picture, read the 7 steps to selling your home in Australia.