How about:

Catered, from a recognizable local restaurant.  Meaty but not messy.  Have something for the vegetarians. 

No alchohol before 5:00PM.

Costco sandwich....?

Annette,

It depends on the home, etc.  There are many potential hazards involved and issues of spilling.  I would not recommend it unless it was professionally catered with staff to pick up after everybody instantly.  A

Comfort food in my area is soup or chili. Agents come out for this especially if it is coupled with homemade desserts.

I have done both, and it really just depends on the house, it's price range, what season of the year it is, etc. I do try to keep it nice but simple. 

I have no idea why food and business are combined.

I would advertise the open as being for serious professionals only who are interested in selling homes rather than trolling for a free lunch.

When I first started out in this business I used to be at the office if I was not with a client. Before Brokers Open groups of people used to talk about who had better food and where. It did not help to sell the property, only get fat.

If you see something you can sell you call your client.

Go get a donut afterwords.

I now go look at the properties alone too.

I have seen everything from a full meal to wine & cheese.  Personally, I think wine & cheese is great, easy, and still encourages people to come.

Chocolates.

You're braver than I - I would never serve food at an open house - broker or not

I do home make sloppy joes from a secret recipe.  no one ever has them

For luxury brokers open, you might want to consider wine and cheese.

Ditto Raymond E. Camp 

Feed 'em and they will come.

Offering food of any kind to agents worked in our market.  Of course, I've been out of the loop for a while but I suspect it still does.  

Here they have sandwiches and beverages; really upscale some will cater and also try to have two or three homes with one serving the meal and the second dessert with the third having a prize for visiting all three.

Hi Annette.  I would be very leery of offering some of your options as they are prone to making stains if dropped or mishandled.

Whatever you end up doing, make it quality

Wine & cheese (but always room for a carrot stick or two)

Yes, we provide that, but not for public open houses.

Fred Griffin has a great suggestion!

when my peeps provide an open house for brokers, they have platters of finger rolls with seafood salad and other varieties; salad; veggie platter...

I do  not serve alcohol at brokers open .

We like to offer mostly finger foods unless we have enough table and chair space for the crowd. I've made mini casseroles using muffin pans. I use standard recipes but they come out as individual servings and are easy to eat.  Savory foods like corn bread evoke that "comfort food" sensation for many people. As does good old apple pie!

In my world no open houses, so no food needed. I might attend a broker open once or twice a year, but I don't go there because of food... could care less.

Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041 - that indeed is a great idea.

There is an old saying that, "If you hang your pork chop in the window, they will come!"

Left my suggestion on the blog.  Would love to know what you go with.  Best of luck to you and just make sure you have that sign that says: "Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches  Warning: Contains Peanuts"

I have been to a few and they really are just water cooler banter

We had Chili at our last one.  It was a hit!

It's not anything fancy, but I attended a broker's open where the hosting agent served "travelling tacos."  You started with a personal sized bag of Doritos or Fritos, then spooned in meat and whatever other topping you wanted.  Ate it out of the bag.  Very tasty and no mess since you ate it out of the bag.

Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041 I left a comment on your post.

Chili or clam chowder are popular here. Easy to serve from a slow cooker, along with some nice crackers, veggies for munching, cookies. 

I personally try not  not eat any comfort food, and rarely serve it for others.