With the market heating up and more buyers hitting the streets every weekend, open houses are back in full swing — and they’re still one of the best tools we have for creating buzz and driving offers.

But let’s be honest — in today’s competitive Boston-area market, simply putting out a few signs and hoping for the best doesn’t cut it. If you want to turn a casual browser into a serious buyer, your open house needs to stand out.

Here’s how sellers (and agents) can make that happen: